Century says power provider must shoulder some Ravenswood risk

Oct 30, 2012 | 10:25 AM | Suzy Waite

Tags  Century Aluminum, Ravenswood smelter, Appalachian Power, aluminum smelter, aluminum, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, PSC, LME London Metal Exchange

NEW YORK — In order to restart its idled 170,000-tonne-per-year smelter in Ravenswood, W.Va., Appalachian Power Co. customers must take risks to receive rewards, according to Century Aluminum Co.

Both Century and Appalachian Power have filed reconsiderations with the Public Service Commission (PSC) of West Virginia in response to the commission’s proposed power agreement for Century’s Ravenswood smelter.

Earlier this month, the PSC approved a special power rate for Century’s Ravenswood smelter, which has been shut since 2009 (amm.com, Oct. 4). The PSC agreed to link Century’s power costs with the London Metal Exchange price of aluminum, but denied Century’s request that some other costs be passed on to other power users, including some of Appalachian’s residential customers.....