Should Appalachian Power customers help Century Aluminum pay its bills?
That's the big question that the West Virginia Public Service Commission is trying to sort out.
The PSC wrapped up it's first day of hearings on Monday. The hearing surrounds a proposed 'special rate' that Century wants to pass on to its customers so it can reopen the Ravenswood Plant.
Customers, like Wanda White, are all for the Ravenswood Plant. But, White is against the rate increase she will have to pay on her bill.
"I'm self-employed and I take care of my own business. If I have a problem, I don't pass it along to my customers, because you can't keep doing it. There's got to be a stopping point somewhere," she said.
PSC Consumer advocate Byron Harris said Century's plan would add up to five dollars a month to Appalachian Power customers monthly bills.
The increase doesn't sit well with people like White.
"I don't think it should be put on the people. It's just not right. It's, the businesses should do something with themselves to take care of it and not put it on the people that are getting the electricity," she said.
The battle over this special rate has also been frustrating for Century retirees.
They want the Ravenswood Plant to breathe new life so they can get their health benefits back.
But, they said they can't and won't support what Century is trying to do to some customers who are already struggling to pay their bills.
"We pray that will happen; that smarter heads in there will come up with a plan to figure out how to make it feasible for Century to restart and not at the expense of the other rate payers who couldn't afford to have that risk," said Karen Gorrell, Century Retiree.
This PSC hearing will continue on Tuesday at 9 a.m.
Testimony should wrap up by Wednesday. A final decision on the matter won't be issued until September.
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