
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 2, 1990                   TAG: 9003023426
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B-5   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: associated press
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

APCO RATE INCREASE REQUEST DELAYED

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Thursday suspended until Aug. 1 Appalachian Power Co.'s request for a 2.9 percent wholesale rate increase. The maximum suspension period means FERC has reason to believe the request appears to be excessive, said Fred Ritts, a lawyer for the wholesale customers.

The federal agency has consolidated the rate increase request with the wholesale customers' complaint that Apco is overcharging. While Apco asked for $2.4 million in higher rates, the customers asked for a refund of $2.7 million.

FERC also denied Apco's motion to strike the wholesale customers' protest that the utility's proposed rate increase appears to be in retaliation to the overcharging complaint, Ritts said. The wholesale customers are Salem, Radford, Bedford, Martinsville, Danville, Richlands, Virginia Tech and the Craig-Botetourt and Central Virginia co-ops.

by CNB