The West Virginia Public Service Commission has launched a formal investigation into Black Diamond Power Company after dozens of customer complaints about high bills, frequent outages, and safety concerns. The utility serves about 5,000 people in Clay, Raleigh, and Wyoming counties.
The Clay County Commission joined the call for action, saying the issues have gotten worse over the years. The investigation also follows Black Diamond’s request for a rate hike that would raise average monthly bills by $11.
The PSC has received 48 billing complaints since last year. A hearing is set for October 21st in Mullens. Black Diamond has not responded to the investigation.