AEP and Allegheny Energy have told the state Public Service Commission they are willing to move the decision date on the PATH project from the current June 22, 2010 deadline to January 25, 2011, a delay of 217 days.

The two companies want to construct a high transmission power line from the John Amos Power Plant in Putnam County, through central counties and into the eastern panhandle, ending in Kemptown, Maryland.

A staff attorney with the PSC recently called on the commission to dismiss the project because the Maryland Public Service Commission did the same earlier this year over an application issue. The staff attorney claimed West Virginia couldn't rule on the project if where it would end remains up in the air.

In a response filed Wednesday, attorneys for PATH called the staff attorney's request for dismissal "makeweight, speculative, and illogical." They say the companies will soon refile in Maryland and Kemptown will remain the terminus of the line.

AEP and Allegheny Energy have suggested the West Virginia PSC delay its final decision on PATH because of the refiling that's required in Maryland. The companies would like for the approval processes in Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia to take place around the same time.  PATH's attorneys maintain the project is badly needed and putting off a final decision 217 days until January 25, 2011 would make "the need for PATH even more urgent."

AEP and Allegheny Energy are suggesting a new date, Sept. 13, 2010, for the evidentiary hearing before the PSC.

The companies have asked the PSC to make a decision on their request as soon as possible.