CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVVA) – A formal complaint filed by the Wyoming County Board of Education against Black Diamond Power Company will go to the state Division of Administrative Law Judges.
The dispute centers on Black Diamond, which buys electricity from Appalachian Power Co. (APCo) and resells it to customers, charging the school system $80,000 to hook up electricity for a new school, a service the schools say APCo performs free.
The complaint was initially part of other customer service gripes about Black Diamond, but has been separated by an order because it is a different issue. Also in question is whether the City of Mullens should be part of the school system’s formal complaint as it was initially filed.
The Law Judges have been ordered by the Public Service Commission (PSC) to decide on the school system’s case on or before April 1, 2026.
Since complaints about Black Diamond service surfaced and the subsequent public hearings to hear customers, the PSC has initiated a general investigation into Black Diamond’s business practices.
The company serves customers in Raleigh, Wyoming and Clay counties.
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