 Appalachian Wireless is Appalachian Advantage. Unlimited text, talk, and two gigs of data for as low as $45 a month. Or if you like, get five lines on eight gigs of data for just $145 a month. See store for details. Better service, bigger savings. That's today's Appalachian Wireless and East Kentucky Network Company. In a show of unity on Wednesday, officials came together to say no to Kentucky Power's request for a rate increase. And they were led by Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear. In a press conference at the University of Pikeville, Beshear announced that his office will intervene in Kentucky Power's rate increase request case, currently before the state's Public Service Commission. And he, on behalf of the people of Eastern Kentucky, would all together oppose the rate increase request. My office, through our office of rate intervention, will be asking the Public Service Commission to fully reject AEP Kentucky Power's $60 million rate increase request. And while their customers have decreased by approximately $7,000 in this region, during the past five years, AEP profits have been in excess of $1.3 billion, we can't expect those that have the least to pay the most. Officials across the region describe the hardship a new rate increase would cause on Kentucky Power's rate payers. And you have to mention something about people living to paycheck to paycheck. You know what, now they're living from credit card to credit card to make their payments. And I just think that it's ironic that in this region that for two centuries has powered our nation, that now we're having trouble keeping our lives on. Instead of accepting a lesser return during these bad hard times, it is seeking to pass it its cost on to those who can afford at least the men and the women and children of eastern Kentucky. We know for sure that it would be an economic disaster for the people of our region, whether they're low income or whether they're working every day. It still will be a disaster. Officials said an increase would also affect the education of children across eastern Kentucky. For every dollar that we spend on electricity, that's a that's a dollar we don't spend on each capita of kids. Our situation is quickly becoming unmanaged. Our students are suffering, our people are suffering. We can't absorb another rate increase from AEP. Public hearings on the rate increase case have been scheduled in three cities, Hazard, Prestonsburg and Ashland. Those who spoke at Wednesday's press conference said hearings need to be scheduled in every community in eastern Kentucky where folks would be affected by their proposed rate increase. In Pikeville, Chris Anderson, EKB News.