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Martin County Water District records 428 cutoff accounts for nonpayment
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Water District recorded 428 customer cutoffs for delinquent accounts from May 2025 through May 2026, according to a report it filed with the Kentucky Public Service Commission. The monthly total peaked at 55 cutoffs in June 2025. The district reported 42 in April 2026 and 26…
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Sept. 8 conference: PSC to question Martin County Water on rates, surcharges, raw water intake
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Kentucky Public Service Commission will question Martin County Water District officials Tuesday about customer surcharge collections, a possible rate adjustment, the district’s long-troubled raw water intake and the status of millions of dollars in grant funding. The PSC has scheduled its monthly informal conference in Case No.…
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Kentucky PSC probes rising electric, gas costs
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN The Kentucky Public Service Commission has opened a statewide proceeding to examine the affordability of electric and natural gas service as residential customers face rising utility costs. The proceeding comes less than two months after the commission ordered a separate independent audit of Kentucky Power’s management and operations, an action…
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PSC orders audit of Kentucky Power
BY LAUREL SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — Kentucky regulators have ordered an independent audit of Kentucky Power Company’s management and operations, citing years of concern over the utility’s planning, decision-making and judgment. The Kentucky Public Service Commission issued the order July 2 in Case No. 2026-00159, opening a formal investigation into Kentucky Power’s managerial and…
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Activist urges Martin County to adopt resolution calling for Kentucky Power audit
BY ANNIE HOLLER MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — A Pike County activist is urging Eastern Kentucky counties to demand a full public audit of Kentucky Power before any additional rate increases are approved. Zachary Tackett, founder of the nonprofit Creek Don’t Rise Coalition, plans to ask the Martin County Fiscal Court on Thursday to adopt a…
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PSC opens enforcement case over Martin County Water District unapproved truck lease
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN FRANKFORT — The Kentucky Public Service Commission has opened a formal investigation into the Martin County Water District, five current or former commissioners and an Alliance Water Resources manager over allegations the utility entered into a truck lease without first obtaining state approval required by law. In a March 31…
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PSC rejects Martin County Water District request to end monitoring
BY ROGER SMITH MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — The Kentucky Public Service Commission has denied the Martin County Water District’s request to end state monitoring and close the long-running oversight case, ruling that the district has not yet shown it can operate without continued scrutiny or without the support of its outside management company, Alliance Water…
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Martin County Water District asks PSC to end oversight
Opponents warn system remains fragile BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — Martin County Water District is asking the Kentucky Public Service Commission (PSC) to close a long-running oversight case and lift monitoring requirements imposed more than six years ago, arguing that the utility has made significant financial and operational progress under outside management. The…
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Martin County Water declines rate hike despite revenue gap
BY LISA STAYTON MOUNTAIN CITIZEN INEZ — On paper, the numbers point to a sharp water rate hike. In practice, Martin County water officials say they are charting a different course. The Martin County Water District filed its 2026 Revenue Requirement Report with the Kentucky Public Service Commission on Monday. The filing shows the district…
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This can’t keep happening
BY MARY CROMER Kentucky Power is asking the Public Service Commission to approve yet another rate increase—its third since 2020. Bills have already risen nearly 40% in that period. This time, Kentucky Power is asking for an average 14.9% increase in residential bills. But not everyone’s bills would go up by the same amount. Instead,…
