MULLENS, W.Va – Mediation has been rejected in a dispute between the Wyoming County Board of Education and Black Diamond Power over the costs to initiate power at the county’s new school that is currently under construction.
A notice of mediation between the parties, which also include the city of Mullens on the side of the BOE, was filed last Thursday but an updated filing on Monday indicated that the Public Service Commission determined the case was not appropriate for several reasons.
It stated that the case should be returned to the litigation stream because there are currently two other somewhat similar cases at the Commission, the case does not appear to be a territorial issue, and it is unclear whether or not the Wyoming County Board of Education is the proper party.
Earlier this month, the staff of the PSC published a letter to the Commission recommending an investigation into Black Diamond Power after the receipt of two formal complaints and 19 informal complaints since September 1.
One of the formal complaints was filed by the Wyoming County Board of Education, and a letter to the PSC written by state Senator Brian Helton and signed by state Senator Rollan Roberts alleges “extraordinary costs” to provide power to the county’s new K-8 school, in addition to accusations of excessive consumer rates, questionable billing practices, and unreliable service levels.
The second formal complaint alleges “serious safety allegations” at a healthcare facility.
Black Diamond Power serves nearly 5,000 customers in Raleigh, Wyoming, and Clay Counties, and the letter sent to the Commission by its staff noted that 60 informal complaints had been filed against the company, including 48 for unusual or irregular billing, since 2024.