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Kingsport resident urges transparency on AEP rate increases during public comment
Summary
A Kingsport resident told the board rates set by AEP and decisions by utility regulators are raising local bills and called for more transparency and scrutiny as property taxes and utility costs rise.
During the public‑comment period at the Sept. 16 Kingsport Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, resident Tim Sanders urged city leaders to scrutinize rate increases by American Electric Power and to seek greater transparency from regulators and utilities.
Sanders, who gave his address as 1213 Bloomingdale Pike, said AEP is a publicly traded utility and “they cannot lose money,” an incentive he said leads to rate increases in other parts of a company’s service area. He warned that rising utility rates are coming at a time when property assessments and taxes have also increased, and said residents will soon be deciding how to cover multiple higher bills this winter.
He described what he called the effects of exclusive distribution territories — “a fence around their distribution area” — and questioned oversight arrangements he characterized as underfunded by taxpayers but heavily supported by utility contributions. Sanders asked for more transparency and for the board to “get them discussing it, and try to get control,” noting the seasonal timing of upcoming tax assessment mailings and winter utility consumption.
No board action was taken during the public‑comment period; the mayor reminded speakers that the board would not engage in a back‑and‑forth exchange during the public comment segment but that members were available to speak with citizens before or after the meeting.
