AEP

Appalachian Power has about 500,000 customers in Virginia who receive power from the Mountaineer and John Amos power plants.

In testimony in recent weeks filed with the state Public Service Commission, American Electric Power told regulators it couldn’t replenish its coal supply after September because of high worldwide demand.

Critics have questioned whether all three plants will be needed as coal continues to lose ground to natural gas and renewables.

An ownership agreement currently before state regulators could result in the shutdown of one of the plant’s two units, or repowering it with natural gas, two technical experts testified.

The Citizen Action Group and Energy Efficient West Virginia have asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to weigh in on the future of the Mitchell power plant.

With higher natural gas prices and rising demand for electricity, coal is on the rebound. But next year, there are signs coal will continue to decline.

West Virginia ratepayers will be responsible for covering the $448 million cost of upgrading the plants to keep them in line with Environmental Protection Agency regulations.

On Friday, the West Virginia Public Service Commission will consider whether customers of Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power will pay the full cost of upgrades to the John Amos, Mitchell and Mountaineer power plants.

Mountaineer has been generating electric power since Jimmy Carter was president. But due to changing environmental regulations and the competition from natural gas and renewable energy, time could be running out.

The Virginia Corporation Commission on Monday rejected Appalachian Power’s plan to keep the John Amos and Mountaineer power plants in West Virginia operating through 2040.