First Energy and AEP Energy Plans Fail to Protect Customers From Rising Costs

CHARLESTON, W.Va -Appalachian Power (APCo) and Wheeling Power, two AEP subsidiary utility companies, have released their 2025 Integrated Resource Plans(IRPs) outlining how they plan to generate electricity for over 1 million customers, including 460,000 West Virginians and 530,000 Virginians, through 2035. The proposed AEP Plans continue to rely on high-cost, polluting coal and fail to implement energy efficiency measures to help customers save on bills.

Mon Power and Potomac Edison, two First Energy subsidiaries serving 550,000 customers in West Virginia, also released their IRP this month. The First Energy IRP claims to consider impacts to ratepayers, environmental regulations, and electric reliability, however the utility's preferred Plan fails to address those concerns. Like APCo and Wheeling, First Energy's Plan fails to include energy efficiency programs that could save customers money. In addition, First Energy proposes building a 1,200 MW combined cycle gas plant and only a measly 70 MW of solar power over the next ten years, thereby exposing customers to the volatile gas market when they could rely on clean, cheap solar power.

"Neither AEP nor First Energy seems serious about lowering costs for customers," said Jim Kotcon, Chair of the West Virginia Chapter of Sierra Club. "Neither utility's IRP has seriously considered energy efficiency programs or reliable energy that save people money. While the utilities' continued reliance on fossil fuels may make political leaders happy, these Plans will have damaging long-term consequences to West Virginians' electric bills, our health, and the environment."

"AEP is planning to profit off potential rollbacks to crucial environmental regulations that protect communities from the detrimental public health and safety impacts of coal," said Mary-Stuart Torbeck, Virginia's Beyond Coal Campaign Senior Organizer. "By continuing to rely on high-cost coal, abandoning longstanding health and safety regulations, and ignoring energy efficiency, AEP's Plan does nothing to help lower bills for Virginians or improve public health."

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America's largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit https://www.sierraclub.org.