Surging electricity costs are pushing some West Virginia residents to make sacrifices on essentials, according to a story originally published by Mountain State Spotlight and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.
The reporting says electricity prices have risen rapidly, and that West Virginia has one of the fastest-rising residential power rates in the country. It cites data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration saying the average price of electricity for residential ratepayers increased by nearly 34% between 2019 and 2024.
The story attributes the higher bills to several factors, including West Virginia’s continued reliance on coal even as cheaper alternative energy sources have emerged. It also says the growing number of data centers in the region has played a role and that the state’s declining population has exacerbated increased costs. The article adds that costs could worsen if lawmakers continue to seek ways to “double down on coal.”
It also points to the scale of the problem for households. The report says 37% of West Virginia households are energy-burdened—spending more than 6% of household income on electricity and other power-related costs—and it cites the Statewide Housing Needs Assessment from the state Housing Development Fund. The story says the assessment found roughly 266,000 burdened households, including 20% that are low-income and have among the highest energy costs in the state.
The article describes how those costs are affecting families through individual examples. Dwan Marcum, who lives in Genoa, said she was afraid to sign her seven-year-old daughter up for cheerleading after weighing a $75 fee against her electric bill. She said, “I was afraid to take that $75 and pay that fee for her to play, because that $75, that can go toward my electric bill.”
Marcum and her family have also tried other measures, the story said. In December, she sold off rings, earrings and a bracelet for $450, but the article said that amount did not cover an electric bill of $610 once her costs rose further. She said, “When your electric bill is higher than your house payment, there’s something wrong.”
The story says Marcum has exhausted a one-time payment plan option and borrowed money from a “buy now, pay later” service to help pay power costs. It also says she is continuing to delay buying necessary car repairs so she can hold onto money in case of a future bill. She said, “We shouldn’t have to be having payment assistance for something that is a necessity,” and also expressed concern that she was not alone, adding she is “not the only one that’s had to do these things.”
Marcum’s next bill is forecast to be more than $700, the article says, leaving roughly $100 of her husband’s paycheck. She said, “It shouldn’t take a whole check or more to pay an electric bill.” The story also recounts other family sacrifices, including a yard sale by her in-laws and a period in which her mother-in-law went without blood pressure medicine for two weeks so the money could be used for electricity costs.
Another resident described in the story is Debbie Allen, 62, of Wayne County, who received a December power bill of $980, nearly five times higher than her November bill. The reporting says winter bills can be higher for her, but that the December amount had not been seen at that level before.
Allen, a widow who lives alone most of the year while her daughter is away at school, said she tries to lower consumption by leaving most things unplugged and turning her furnace down. The story says she also replaced older appliances with energy-efficient models. She said, “It’s supposed to be energy saving,” and later added, “That doesn’t sound like I saved any energy.”
The article says Allen tried to understand what caused the spike. After multiple calls, she was told it was due to power surges, but the story says she has not found anyone who could help stop those surges from running up her costs. Allen said, “Nothing’s helping the bill,” and later asked, “If every month it’s like that, how do you keep paying that?”
According to the story, the unexpected bill forced Allen to cut back on spending during the holiday season, including for her siblings and extended family. She said, “We just decided not to buy for each other because it was just too hard on me.”
The reporting also follows Brandon Cannon, whose bill rose to $745 last January, leaving him scrambling. The article says Cannon shares a townhouse in Martinsburg with three roommates and that he pays half of the electricity bill after it is split four ways, while also noting the presence of two boa constrictors that require heating and lighting.
The story says Cannon responded to the spike by wrapping windows with cling wrap to retain heat and by stopping use of the central heating system. It says he used the oven as a heating source and used ceramic candles to heat smaller rooms. The article also says he went without hot water, used cold water for showers and dishes, and dried clothes using the oven or over the candles used for heat.
Cannon’s roommates also had to make changes, the story says, including falling behind on car maintenance and stopping going to the gym. To pay his portion of the roughly $700 bill, the article says Cannon dipped into money he would have otherwise used for food. He said, “I didn’t have the money for it,” and added, “I had to forgo getting proper groceries. Instead, eating ramen for a while, actually.”