Loading...

Processing your request

Thank you for your patience.
  1. Home
  2. Community
  3. Power Projects & Plans
  4. Smart Grid

Improving Your Service With a Stronger, Smarter Grid

Better. Faster. Smarter.

We're improving how power reaches your home with advanced technology. As a result, you'll have fewer outages, better and faster service, simpler billing and more ways to save.

  • Fewer outages: With new Distribution Automation Circuit Reconfiguration (DACR) technology, the grid will automatically reroute electricity away from issues like downed power lines, keeping power on for more people.
  • Better and faster service: Thanks to your new smart meter, we'll know if your power goes out and can begin repairs faster than before. Additionally, we're using new technologies to proactively fix issues and improve reliability for you and your neighbors.
  • More ways to save: By logging into AppalachianPower.com/Account/Usage, you can view your daily energy usage. This information puts you in control and gives you the power to save energy and lower your bill.

See How We're Improving Your Service

DACR: Enhancing Reliability in Your Community

AMI: Identifying and Repairing Reliability Challenges

Weekly Electricity Updates: View Your Home's Weekly Energy Usage

FAQs

A smart meter is an electric meter equipped with two-way communication technology that provides near real-time meter readings and securely transfers your usage information to Appalachian Power for billing and operational purposes. The technology improves billing accuracy and eliminates the need for a meter reader to enter your property.
Radio frequencies (RFs) emitted by digital meters are well below those produced by other common household devices, such as cell phones, microwaves and home Wi-Fi networks. The RFs are also well below the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) limit. The FCC has determined that digital meters are safe.

Digital meters transmit less than two minutes a day. It would take 10,000 years of exposure from a digital meter to be exposed to the same amount of radio frequency as you receive from one year of moderate cell phone use.

The American Cancer Society has found no link between smart meters and cancer.

The FCC has jurisdiction over the approval and use of radio frequency devices. More information on the FCC's jurisdiction and radio frequency exposure can be found below.

Mechanical meters haven't been manufactured in the U.S. since 2007 and are no longer available. Appalachian Power has not used mechanical meters for a decade, since radio frequency meters were first installed. Smart meters are essentially the same as the radio frequency meters in place today, except that they are updated to provide two-way communication.
DACR is new technology that detects a power outage and automatically reroutes power, minimizing the number of people affected within minutes. This means improved electric service for you and your neighbors.

APCo Featured Stories

Loading...    loading
Read Story

January 20, 2026

APCo adds hydraulic rock diggers to speed reliability, restoration work

Appalachian Power has acquired two trailer-mounted hydraulic rock-digging drills, specialized machines engineered to break and remove hard rock during pole installations and trenching. Designed to handle the region’s mountainous terrain, these units will help line crews complete reliability upgrades and outage restorations faster and with fewer delays, improving service for customers across the system.

Appalachian Power has acquired two trailer-mounted hydraulic rock-digging drills, specialized machines engineered to break and remove hard rock during pole installations and trenching. Designed to handle the region’s mountainous terrain, these units will help line crews complete reliability upgrades and outage restorations faster and with fewer delays, improving service for customers across the system.

Read Story

October 22, 2025

Proactive measures ensure steady reliability for customers

For Justin Kirk, a distribution system analysis engineer, improving reliability is the top priority. At the start of this year, Kirk – and the entire APCo team – began proactively monitoring “blinks,” brief interruptions in power flow that last only a few seconds and often go unnoticed by customers. 

For Justin Kirk, a distribution system analysis engineer, improving reliability is the top priority. At the start of this year, Kirk – and the entire APCo team – began proactively monitoring “blinks,” brief interruptions in power flow that last only a few seconds and often go unnoticed by customers. 

Read Story

June 26, 2025

Powering Reliability: Upgrades complete in North Roanoke

Earlier this year, winter storms caused power outages across several neighborhoods in Roanoke, Va. In response, Appalachian Power launched a targeted infrastructure improvement project to enhance service reliability for over 250 customers in the area.

Earlier this year, winter storms caused power outages across several neighborhoods in Roanoke, Va. In response, Appalachian Power launched a targeted infrastructure improvement project to enhance service reliability for over 250 customers in the area.

Welcome back!

Please login to manage your account.

Forgot User ID or Password?
Register