FRANKFORT, Ky. (Feb. 3, 2026)-- Attorney General Russell Coleman called on the Kentucky Public Service Commission to reject any increase in utility rates for Kentucky Power's Eastern Kentucky ratepayers. In a brief filed Tuesday, General Coleman criticized Kentucky Power’s requests for rate hikes and underscored the need for affordable and reliable energy in the Commonwealth.
The Attorney General’s position would protect customers who have experienced rate hikes in four of the last five years from another double-digit rate increase. Kentucky Power customers already have some of the highest electric bills in the Commonwealth, despite what’s described as “unreliable service.” General Coleman said the latest proposal is unsustainable and would result in customers moving out of the region or even out of the Commonwealth. . The Attorney General is asking the PSC to reject any rate increase whatsoever is extremely rare, but the step is necessary to protect Kentuckians. According to the brief, there is no evidence that a denial of the proposed rate hikes would hurt Kentucky Power. The day after Kentucky Power sought its rate increase, the utility’s out-of-state parent company announced record earnings.
“For generations, outsiders have taken advantage of Eastern Kentucky in attempts to sap its resources and drain families’ money. It’s my duty to promote affordable, reliable energy in Kentucky, and another rate increase for Kentucky Power won’t advance that goal,” said Attorney General Coleman. “I hope the Public Service Commission joins me on the side of Kentucky families and holds Kentucky Power accountable.”
Kentucky Power serves more than 160,000 Kentuckians in the Eastern Kentucky Counties of Boyd, Breathitt, Carter, Clay, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Lewis, Magoffin, Martin, Morgan, Owsley, Perry, Pike and Rowan counties.
Deputy Director of the Attorney General’s Office of Rate Intervention Michael West, Assistant Attorneys General Lawrence Cook, Angela Goad and Toland Lacy and Executive Director John Horne submitted the brief on behalf of the Commonwealth.
Read the brief here.