| Elk Power Company, a small Clay County power company will merge with two other outfits in southern West Virginia.
The companies are planning on raising rates.
Black Diamond Power Co., Elk Power Co. and Union Power Co. will combine into a new company called the West Virginia Utility Co.
Former Elk Power customer rates would go up 15.6 percent monthly.
The new company would serve 4,300 residential customers in Kanawha, Clay, Raleigh and Wyoming counties.
The increased charges would become effective December 25, and raise an additional $725,900 a year for the new utility.
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