Craig Straight, an employee of the Pleasants Power Station for two decades, is hoping enough time can be bought to work through a potential ownership change to two big power companies rather than shutting down.
PIeasants is a 1300 megawatt two-unit coal power plant located on the Ohio River near Belmont, Pleasants County. About 150 people work at the plant, which began operations in 1979.
Unless something happens soon, it’s set to close.
“To the plant’s employees, who for the last 5 years have endured the emotional roller coaster associated with the uncertainty surrounding the plant’s future, this transaction makes sense,” Straight wrote in a 29-page filing with the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
“To the citizens of Pleasants County, who stand to see their economy and the funding of their school system decimated by the closure of Pleasants, this transaction makes sense. To the businesses in 21 different counties throughout the state of West Virginia, from whom Pleasants sources goods and services, this transaction makes sense.”
Straight’s written testimony is one of the longest and most detailed of dozens of filings with the Public Service Commission as it gears up to steer through a decision about what to do with the coal-fired power plant for the time being.
The Public Service Commission is taking public comments through this Friday in the case, which could result in increased costs to ratepayers while the ownership issue is being explored.
Right now, Pleasants is expected to close June 1. Its corporate owner, Energy Harbor, has been bought by another company, Vistra Vision, which wants its nuclear plants but not its coal plants like Pleasants.
On March 31, Monongahela Power and the Potomac Edison Company, submitted written analysis that proposed an interim response: While the companies complete their analysis of whether taking on Pleasants Power Station make sense, they are suggesting a temporary surcharge.
The proposal is for a $3 million monthly surcharge over 12 months, a total of $36 million, to assure the plant remains operational.
For average residential customers, that’s estimated to be an extra $2.67 a month. For commercial customers, $8.44 more a month. And for industrial customers: $4,416 more a month. Those are estimated averages, so the actual amount for individuals could be more or less those amounts.
“The Companies would make no profit on the surcharge but just recover Mon Power’s costs expended to keep the workforce, keep the plant operable, and other expenses related thereto,” company representatives wrote.
The companies are requesting action by the Public Service Commission no later than April 25.
“Once a station is closed, it is very difficult to restart,” the power companies wrote. “Employees are no longer available. There is not an experienced, capable staff to operate the complex machinery that is part of a power station.
“If the plant is going to continue to run or be available to run, then it is imperative that the existing staff of employees be maintained and that the plant components be kept ‘warm’ and operable.”
But the companies also note that deciding whether continuing to operate Pleasants is a good investment requires additional review, due diligence and evaluation.
The PSC plans an evidentiary hearing at 9:30 a.m. April 21 at its headquarters, 201 Brooks Street in Charleston. The hearing will also be live-streamed on the PSC website and on its YouTube channel.
“Further evaluation is required before a long-term decision is made, but it is prudent to at least consider this interim action in the meantime,” stated PSC Chairwoman Charlotte Lane.