By Tonia Rose, staff writer
Feb. 3, 2010 — The Carter County Fiscal Court is not the only government body concerned with Kentucky Powers’ recent request for a rate increase.
Attorney General Jack Conway has interfered by ordering an investigation to see if the 34.95 percent hike is fair to Kentucky Power customers.
“One function of the attorney general’s office is to step up and do everything in our power to prevent rate increases,” Shelly Johnson, deputy communication director with Conway’s office told a Journal-Times reporter. “We are here to represent Kentucky rate payers in order to keep them from being overcharged for services.”
Judge Executive Charles Wallace sent a letter Jan. 15 to the Kentucky Public Service Commission to speak out about the proposed increase.
Wallace was notified his letter had reached Frankfort Thursday and that he and the fiscal court’s concerns were being “treated as an official protest.”
Wallace is urging the commission to prevent the rate increase, as it could cause hardship for many people in the county.
”We have many elderly folks who will have to make a choice to buy their medicines or pay their bills.” Wallace said. “They will not have enough money to do both. This increase will make a terrible impact on the citizens here in Carter County. And with the economy being in the shape it is, I am not sure how some people will make it.”
The commission informed Wallace that a hearing would be set in the matter. Wallace does plan to attend.
A rate increase likely to cause hardship for local residence caused the FIVCO Area Development Board to likewise send a protest letter to the public commission as well.
Executive Director Sherry McDavid said the 27-member board incorporates constituents including county judges and mayors from Carter, Elliott, Boyd, Greenup and Lawrence Counties.
“There are so many in our area that just can’t overcome such a rise in their utility bills,” McDavid commented Friday. “We will do everything we can to prevent this from happening. It’s just not possible for some people to afford this.”
