Side by side (WV, EIA-861)
| Metric | Appalachian Power Co | Monongahela Power Co |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 16.77 | 13.97 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 16.02 | 12.62 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,811 | $1,509 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 348,946 | 334,588 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in WV | 21 | 34 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Appalachian Power Co · Monongahela Power Co · West Virginia overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Clay · Greenbrier · Jackson · Monroe · Nicholas · Roane · Summers counties (WV, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Appalachian Power Co and Monongahela Power Co do not compete for the same meters. West Virginia is a regulated retail market — there is no residential supplier shopping; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings (psc.state.wv.us). The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Appalachian Power Co cheaper than Monongahela Power Co?
- No — in 2024 Appalachian Power Co customers averaged 16.77 cents/kWh versus 13.97 for Monongahela Power Co (EIA-861). Monongahela Power Co was cheaper by 2.79 cents, about $302 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Appalachian Power Co to Monongahela Power Co?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. West Virginia has no residential supplier shopping either; rates are set in utility-commission proceedings.
- Why is Appalachian Power Co more expensive than Monongahela Power Co?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Appalachian Power and Monongahela Power territory all feed the 2.79-cent gap.