Princeton, W.Va. (WVDN) – With electric bills spiking sharply across southern West Virginia, Mercer County WV Indivisible is hosting a free community town hall in Princeton to help residents understand what is driving the increases and what, if anything, can be done.
The event, titled “Why Are Our Power Bills So High?”, will take place on Tuesday, March 17 at 6:00 PM at the Karen Preservati Center in Princeton. Admission is free and open to the public; walk-ins are welcome.
“People are opening their bills and seeing numbers they’ve never seen before,” said Debra Kilgore, head of Mercer County WV Indivisible. “Retirees on fixed incomes, families, and younger people in their first apartments are all asking the same questions: What changed? Is this just how it is now? Do we have any say in this at all? This town hall is about getting straight answers in plain language.”
The panel will bring together voices from research, advocacy, industry, and the Consumer Advocate Division of the Public Service Commission:
Ted Boettner – Senior Researcher, Ohio River Valley Institute
An economic researcher who studies how energy policy and utility decisions affect communities in West Virginia and the Ohio River Valley.
Emmett Pepper – West Virginians for Energy Freedom
An attorney and long‑time advocate for fair, affordable energy and stronger protections for ratepayers across the state.
Derrick Price Williamson – WV Energy Users Group
Represents large energy users and industry, and will speak to how big customers, utilities, and policymakers interact when it comes to power costs.
Robert F. Williams – Director, Consumer Advocate Division, WV Public Service Commission
An attorney with decades of experience in regulatory and administrative law who now leads the Consumer Advocate Division at the West Virginia Public Service Commission.
Tyler Cannon – WV Citizens Action Group
A community organizer focused on how new, large power users such as data centers and industrial projects affect local power systems, reliability, and rates.
Panelists will offer brief remarks and then participate in a moderated discussion, followed by audience Q&A. Attendees are encouraged to bring a recent electric bill so they can follow along and ask specific questions.
Topics expected to be covered include:
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The main factors behind recent bill spikes, beyond weather alone
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How fuel costs, utility decisions, large power users, and public policy feed into what shows up on monthly statements
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Who is at the table when rates are set, and where residential customers fit in
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What tools regulators and policymakers have, and their limits
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What customers and voters can realistically do to have their voices heard
“This isn’t about scoring political points,” Kilgore said. “It’s about people’s budgets and their ability to live with dignity. We want residents to walk out of that room with a better understanding of what’s happening, and a clearer sense of what can and can’t change.”
Event details:
What: “Why Are Our Power Bills So High?” – Free Community Town Hall
When: Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM
Where: Karen Preservati Center, 704 Maple St., Princeton, WV 24740
Cost: Free · Open to the public · Walk-ins welcome
More information / optional registration: https://mercercountywvindivisible.com
