WILL STAGGERING COSTS OF DERECHO POWER OUTAGE BE SHIFTED TO CUSTOMERS?

(08/08/2012)
More recent storms have knocked out power in Southern West Virginia, adding insult to the injury of the Great Derecho of June, 2012 that swept across the Mountain State.

APCO fired their line workers 15 or so years ago, and outsourced their jobs to Asplundh on a as-needed basis, mostly to increase shareholder return.

Across the years, the trees grew ever larger, and the downed lines was a predictable event.

Critics have long complained about the company's replacement program.

APCO is now saying the disaster cost the company $94 million (and counting) with $58 million going to West Virginia alone.

The West Virginia costs are high because of the mountainous and forested terrain.