CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) — Many West Virginians spoke out Monday night against a proposed rate increase by Hope Gas during a public comment hearing hosted by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.

The in-person and virtual meeting was held at the commission’s office on Brooks Street in Charleston as Hope Gas seeks a $79.6 million rate increase for its customers across 37 counties in the state.

Residents from multiple counties spoke out against the proposal, warning that higher rates could force customers to choose between paying for heat and buying food.

“Thank God we have a Public Service Commission that stands between us and greedy corporate interests,” one resident said.

Another speaker, an independent gas producer, said the increase “would assure that I would go out of bus

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