ROANOKE, Va., May 28, 2015 – Appalachian Power has launched two residential programs in Virginia aimed at reducing power demand during peak periods and helping low-income customers conserve energy.

The Residential Peak Reduction Program provides qualifying households a unique opportunity to save money and assist energy reliability for all Appalachian Power customers. By participating, a customer will help reduce stress on the electric grid when demand is at its highest. A device will be installed near the outside central air conditioning unit.  During a limited number of peak demand periods, Appalachian Power will activate this device to adjust the air conditioner’s compressor to run at 50 percent cycling.

Participating customers will receive an $8 monthly bill credit for each central cooling unit controlled during the billing months of May through September each year of program participation. Customers can find more information and enroll by visiting AppalachianPower.com/save or calling 1-855-522-8216.

Appalachian’s Low Income Weatherization Program provides weatherization products and services to residential customers in need of help reducing home energy bills and improving comfort. Appalachian Power provides funding for this program to supplement state and federal income-qualified weatherization programs.

Customers must first qualify under the statewide Weatherization Assistance Program which requires an annual total household income at or less than 60 percent of the Virginia median income. Appalachian customers can locate their local weatherization provider by visiting www.dhcd.virginia.gov .

Appalachian requested these programs in a submission to the Virginia State Corporation Commission and received approval in November 2014.

Appalachian Power has 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.