CHARLESTON, W.Va., August 13, 2010 – Sustained temperatures hovering at or above 90 degrees across Appalachian Power’s three-state service territory have air conditioning units humming and fans turning.
           
“Customers should remember that cooling equipment works harder and uses more electricity in hotter temperatures,” said Jaime Beckelhimer, Appalachian Power region support manager. “However, there are things customers can do to cut down the size of their electric bill. In addition, moving to the company’s average monthly payment plan can make bills more manageable.”
 
The number of days temperatures went above 90 degrees is significantly higher than last year in these service areas for Appalachian Power as indicated below:
 

APCo Cities	Days of 90º+ in 2009	Days of 90º+ in 2010
Charleston, W. Va.	4 days	24 days
Kingsport, Tenn.	1 day	44 days
Roanoke, Va.	7 days	40 days

       Source: weatherunderground.com; Jan. 1 – August 12
 
There are simple energy efficiency measures customers can put into place to save money without jeopardizing comfort, such as:

• Repair and weatherstrip air leaks in the home; about 10-25 percent of energy used to cool homes escapes via leaks.
• Maintain consistent temperatures and monitor your thermostat settings.
• Install ceiling fans to circulate cool air throughout the house.
• Close draperies and shades on south-facing windows to block sunlight and heat during the day.
• Move furnishings away from floor or return air vents.
• Avoid using heat-producing appliances such as ovens or dryers during the hottest parts of the day.

 
Other energy savings ideas are available at: https://appalachianpower.com/save/. Customers are also encouraged to think ahead and plan for winter when electric bills tend to spike again.

Also, Appalachian offers the average monthly payment plan, designed to level out bills over a 12-month cycle so that customers do not experience summer and winter spikes, when usage is typically at its highest.
 
Customers who are experiencing financial hardship should contact the Company’s 24-hour Customer Solutions Center to discuss options regarding their accounts. The toll free numbers are: 1.800.982.4237 (W. Va.), 1.800.956.4237 (Va.) and 1.800.967.4237 (Tenn.)
 
Appalachian Power has almost 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, which delivers electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined.
 

 
 
Editor’s Note: Temperature information for your locality is available from weatherunderground.com