FRANKFORT, Ky. (WMDJ) — Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is asking state regulators to reject a proposed utility rate increase for Eastern Kentucky customers served by Kentucky Power.

In a brief filed Tuesday with the Kentucky Public Service Commission, Coleman criticized the company’s request for higher rates, citing affordability concerns and past increases. Kentucky Power customers have seen rate hikes in four of the last five years, and already pay some of the highest electric bills in the state.

Coleman argues the latest proposal is unsustainable and could force families to leave the region. The filing says there is no evidence that rejecting the increase would harm the utility, noting that the company’s out-of-state parent reported record earnings shortly after the request was submitted.

Kentucky Power serves more than 160,000 customers across 20 counties in Eastern Kentucky, including Floyd, Pike, Johnson, Knott, and Magoffin counties.

To see the full brief, you can click here