Eastern Kentuckians could potentially face a 14% rate hike on their energy bills under a proposal by Kentucky Power. The state’s energy regulator is holding a final public hearing on the case at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Ashland Transportation Center in Boyd County, followed by a formal hearing next Tuesday.
Suzanne Griffiths, a community advocate living in Boyd County, said residents in the region already pay the highest average power bills in the state. She added that families continue to make daily sacrifices to lower their monthly payments."They're putting up quilts to block off certain parts of the room," she said. "They're very conscientious of how much electricity they use. They're bundling up the kids before they go to bed.
"Older, less energy-efficient homes can lead to higher energy consumption and costs. Housing across the Commonwealth often lacks proper insulation and energy-efficient appliances, forcing residents to use more power to stay comfortable.
Griffiths said the prospect of shelling out more for energy comes at a time when residents are still recovering from the aftermath of severe flooding in the region over the past few years, along with the rising cost of basic necessities.
"I'm just really concerned," she said. "At a time when we're searching for a renaissance in eastern Kentucky, this is exactly what we do not need."Kentucky’s average energy burden was slightly more than 3% for the total population and around 8% among low-income residents, although in some counties, the energy burden can be as steep as 12%, according to 2024 state data.