Latest news with #TravisHackworth
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hundreds of students to compete in SkillsUSA-Virginia at Berglund Center
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Hundreds of career and technical education students across the state will compete in contests to demonstrate their career skills at the Berglund Center. From April 4 through the 6 students showcase their knowledge of manufacturing, transportation, construction, hospitality, and human services while during the SkillsUSA-Virginia Competition. The opening takes place Friday, April 4, with guest speaker Senator Travis Hackworth of Tazewell County. The event will also feature other state and local representatives, as well as representatives from the Department of Education, the Department of Labor, and the Governor's office. Award-winning singer Josh Turner to perform at Dr Pepper Park in May 'These students are demonstrating their skill while proving that our workforce is prepared to lead the way in every technical area our country needs to maintain a strong global economic presence,' said SkillsUSA Executive Director, Chelle Travis. 'CTE is learning that works for America, and we are very proud of this talented group of students who are champions dedicated to excellence in their trades.' SkillsUSA is designed to improve the quality of the future of the skilled workforce in the nation with framework skills including personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. The vision of the event is to help the highly-skilled workforce by providing members a chance to achieve success in their career. The winners will compete in the National SkillsUSA Championships in June of 2025 in Atlanta, Ga. To see the 97 competition categories and the schools participating, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Virginia senators ask SCC to help public with high power bills
richmond, va. — Three Virginia senators are urging the State Corporation Commission to answer questions regarding the increasingly high bills their constituents have to pay each month for electricity. Senator Travis Hackworth, R-District 5, Senator Todd E. Pillion, R-District 6 and Senator William M. Stanley, R-District 7 sent a letter this week to the State Corporation Commission about high monthly power bills. The senators issued a joint statement. 'Out of utter frustration over the lack of responsiveness by Appalachian Power Company to chronically high rates, we sent a joint letter to the State Corporation Commission today,' the senators said in a letter to the Virginia SCC. 'In this letter, we are asking for answers to questions about how to revoke APCO's monopoly franchise or block their ability to operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia. We've heard from thousands of our constituents about their ever-increasing power bills and the lack of options to find economic relief.' Hackworth represents Tazewell County in the Virginia Senate. The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reached out to Appalachian Power about the senators' concerns. 'We are very disappointed in the inaccurate statements being made while our employees are working in the field around the clock to restore power to our Virginia neighbors following Winter Storm Harlow,' said Karen E. Wissing, communications consultant for Appalachian Power. 'As a company that has proudly served the Commonwealth of Virginia for over a century, our workforce is comprised of men and women born and raised here who want the best for their families, friends, and neighbors. 'Working with the legislature, we have made significant progress toward finding real solutions that bring relief to our customers, and we will continue to do so,' Wissing said. 'We recognize some of our customers are struggling with bills now and need immediate support. We encourage those in need to reach out to us directly at 1-800-956-4237 or via Facebook as soon as possible.' The senators asked the State Corporation Commission to answer their questions in an effort to address the electric bills their constituents pay. 'During our numerous attempts to find solutions that work for all parties, APCO has not only failed to provide solutions, but they have also insulted the lived experiences of their customers and attempted to convince us all that the problem lies with our overuse of electricity,' the senators added in their letter. 'No more. We look forward to receiving answers from the State Corporation Commission and acting on that information in the days ahead.' The senators asked the Commission to answer the following questions to help inform future legislative efforts: 1. Is it possible to remove or revoke Appalachian Power Company's monopoly franchise license or ability to operate in the Commonwealth of Virginia? 2. Does the authority for such a revocation rest with the Commission or the Virginia General Assembly or both? 3. Is there any precedent in Virginia for the revocation of the monopoly franchise of any public service company? 4. If such a revocation is possible, what are the requirements and steps necessary to begin the process to remove the company's ability to operate in Virginia, including the timing and most importantly the cost. The cost to APCO customers and the cost or current value of the company if its interests in Virginia are able to be sold? 5. Under what circumstances can a revocation of a public utility's franchise typically happen? A. During such a process, how would customers be served and can a moratorium on shut-offs be in place until such time that a new monopoly franchise be put in place? B. Could an electric cooperative be set up on a temporary or permanent basis or would the service territory be available for purchase by another investor-owned utility? C. Would customers of APCO's service territory be required to pay for any of the company's assets or incur any other 'stranded costs?' 6. Are there alternatives the Commission sees as opportunities to address the extreme customer service deficiencies we are experiencing? Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed bill to let Virginians choose their electric sources stalls
Jan. 30—richmond, va. — Legislation which would allow Virginians to choose their own electric providers has stalled in the Democrat-controlled Virginia General Assembly. Senator Travis Hackworth, R — Tazewell, filed Senate Bill 1281, which is known as the AEP Accountability Act, in early January. The bill would have allowed residential customers of Appalachian Power whose electric bills are more than 25% of the statewide average, as determined by the State Corporation Commission, to give Appalachian Power a 90-day notice before choosing a different electric provider. The power lines are owned by AEP and any electric provider could transmit electricity across those lines with the State Corporation Commission regulating it, thus providing a choice to AEP customers should this bill go through, Hacksworth said when the bill was introduced. Electricity is available on a nationwide power grid, so Virginia consumers can get their power from other providers across the country. "The power we get today may be coming from Ohio," Hackworth said then. "It's not just the power plant up the road." Other power companies have less expensive rates, according to Hackworth. In one example, Dominion Energy's average monthly residential bill for 1200 KW of electricity was $133.08 in February 2024. In January 2024, the average Appalachian Power residential customer was paying $171.09 for 1000 KW of electricity. The Senate Commerce and Labor Committee passed by the bill indefinitely on Tuesday, according to the Legislative Information System. "I am deeply disappointed in the vote to defeat my common sense legislation to allow greater freedom for Appalachian Power customers," Hackworth said. "The people in Southwest Virginia are hurting. We need relief and we need it now." Hackworth said he proposed a limited pilot program that would allow local governments to aggregate their locality's customers together and select a licensed supplier to provide their power generation. "This pilot program would provide meaningful relief," Hackworth said. "But, at the end of the day, I don't care what the relief looks like. It just needs to happen." "This fight isn't over," Hackworth added. "Appalachian Power needs to listen to the cries of their customers and work with us to bring their rates down to the levels of their competitors." Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘AEP Accountability Act' fails to pass Virginia General Assembly
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – An electric utilities proposal before the General Assembly that would have allowed AEP customers greater freedom to choose service providers in the state of Virginia has failed. Proposal SB1281, known as the AEP Accountability Act, was sponsored by Virginia State Senator Travis Hackworth (R) of District 5 and would have allowed any customers of a Phase I Utility using 1,000kWh/month exceeding 125% of the statewide average to purchase energy from any licensed supplier in the Commonwealth. Additionally, it would have decreased the allowed period for customers switching to a competing supplier from being barred as a returning as a customer from 5 years to 90 days. AEP is seeking grants for small advanced nuclear sites in Virginia On Tuesday, January 28, Sen. Hackworth released a statement on social media that said, 'I am deeply disappointed in the vote to defeat my commonsense legislation to allow greater freedom for Appalachian Power customers. The people in Southwest Virginia are hurting. We need relief and we need it now. This afternoon, I proposed a limited pilot program that would allow local governments to aggregate their locality's customers together and select a licensed supplier to provide their power generation. This pilot program would provide meaningful relief. But, at the end of the day, I don't care what the relief looks like. It just needs to happen. This fight isn't over. Appalachian Power needs to listen to the cries of their customers and work with us to bring their rates down to the levels of their competitors.' The proposal was 'passed by indefinitely' in committee indicating it failed in an 8Y – 7N vote. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
