Share Email Print RSS

Pain at the (Heat) Pump

It's official now. The Virginia State Corporation Commission has approved the 18 percent increase in electric rates that Dominion Virginia Power requested to recover its soaring fuel costs. A residential customer using 1,000 kilowatts of electricity monthly will pay an additional $16.61 per month.

There are more rate increases to come. Next year, Dominion files again to collect on another $697 million in deferred costs. And then comes the inevitable base rate adjustments to incorporate the cost of adding expensive new capacity such as the recently approved coal-fired power plant in Wise County.

Crank up that heat pump and enjoy the cool air while you can still afford it. More .