Black Diamond Power Company under general investigation by WVPSC
By Autumn Shelton, RealWV
CHARLESTON – The Public Service Commission of West Virginia (PSC) has launched a general investigation into the Black Diamond Power Company following customer complaints of questionable billing practices. However, an attorney representing the company said that’s not the case.
On September 12, the PSC issued a press release stating that they had received a request to launch an investigation into the billing practices of Black Diamond Power Company, an electricity company, with offices in Sophia and Clay, that serves 4,886 customers in Clay, Raleigh and Wyoming counties.
According to information in the release, the PSC has received 48 informal complaints since September 2024 “alleging unusual and irregular billing practices,” as well as 12 additional complaints regarding the “safety, reliability of service and other issues.”
In the past month alone, the PSC “has received 19 informal and two formal complaints against the company.”
“The number of complaints regarding the quality, reliability and safety of service, especially to a health care facility, creates a risk of irreparable harm to the public health and the Commission should order an interim remedy to this risk and allow for adequate and safe electric service during the pendency of the investigation of Black Diamond,” the staff petition said.
In one letter to the PSC, a Wyoming County resident wrote: “I beg you guys to please investigate the Black Diamond Power Company in Mullens. Our bill keeps increasing and nothing is changing at our house except less usage! We are all struggling here.”
Prior to the PSC’s launch of the general investigation, Senator Rollan Roberts, R-Raleigh, and Senator Brian Helton, R-Fayette, wrote a letter to the PSC stating that they have both been contacted by “numerous constituents in the 9th Senatorial District regarding Black Diamond Power Company in Sophia, WV.”
They asked for the PSC to look into recent rate increases, the feasibility of Black Diamond Power Company to remain as a service provider for the area, the company’s business practices and the use of funds for maintenance and infrastructure upgrades.
“These sudden rate hikes are becoming unaffordable for families and critical institutions in our district,” the Senators wrote. “We believe this matter warrants immediate attention.”
On September 22, an attorney for the Black Diamond Power Company provided the company’s response to these complaints to the PSC.
“While the Company recognizes the increase in informal complaints regarding alleged billing issues, the Company has reviewed those matters and has determined that there are no unusual or irregular billing practices,” the response states. “Black Diamond maintains that all rates and charges have been applied in accordance with its Commission approved tariff.”
Further, the response states that the company is only aware of two formal complaints currently pending before the commission:
“(a) Case No. 25-0783-E-C involves costs associated with initiation of a new service to a new school to be built in Wyoming County, WV. On September 22, 2025, the case was rejected for mediation and will proceed accordingly.
(b) In Case No. 25-0791-E-C, the complainant (a health care facility) alleges power surges to its place of business in Clay, WV. On September 22, 2025, the Company filed an answer to the complaint, advising the Commission that the transformer serving complainant has been replaced, resolving any alleged issues. Further, this is only the third formal complaint against the Company since 2015 alleging a quality-of-service issue.”
“Black Diamond respectfully asserts that its management is neither grossly inefficient nor willfully unresponsive,” the response continues. “Black Diamond Power Company remains committed to providing safe, adequate, and reliable electric service to its customers in Clay, Raleigh, and Wyoming Counties. Further, Black Diamond has provided adequate service to its customers for more than one-hundred (100) years at rates that are among the lowest in West Virginia.”
Black Diamond Power Company has asked for the PSC to dismiss the case, but noted that it will cooperate with any PSC investigation.
