In a move to help West Virginians, the Public Service Commission announced Appalachian Power’s proposed rate hikes wouldn’t be as severe as it originally seemed. A press release from West Virginians for Energy Freedom announced the hike will only be about $76 million instead of the proposed $250 million. Energy Efficient West Virginia policy director Emmett Pepper said while the prices are still increasing, it could have been worse. “It still is a rate increase and so of course people are wanting to not have any more of those if we can get away with it,” Pepper said. “But this is a much-improved reduction.” Many West Virginians rallied against the initial price hikes, worrying how this could impact their households financially. More than 5,000 West Virginians took the time to speak out because they know what’s at stake. Energy Efficient West Virginia thinks that’s more than any other case in PSC history.