APPALACHIAN’S ENHANCED PAYMENT OPTIONS
CUT MONTHLY ELECTRIC BILLS DOWN TO SIZE

Roanoke, Va., January 22, 2010 – Appalachian customers use more electricity in winter months than other times of the year. This winter is no exception, especially with the recent extended period of below freezing temperatures. Today Appalachian added an additional payment option to its existing array of payment plans to help customers manage their monthly electric bill.
 
  “We recognize that some of our customers have concerns about their ability to pay their bills,” said Dana Waldo, Appalachian Power President and COO. “We want to help. We’re introducing payment options that help our customers better manage their monthly budget during these tough economic times. Some of the options include:
 
·         2010 Enhanced Payment Plan – A new payment option for Virginia customers that includes a down payment toward the existing balance, then spreads the additional payments out over the next several months.
 
·         Average Monthly Payment (AMP) plan – With AMP, customers are billed based upon a rolling 12-month average, eliminating spikes in bills during high usage months and adjusts monthly.
 
For customers who need assistance paying their bills, Appalachian works closely with the Virginia Department of Social Services and helps customers find Neighbor-to-Neighbor community assistance organizations. Neighbor-to-Neighbor is Appalachian’s energy assistance program. The company contributed more than $1 million to the program this year.   
                              
“For customers who need help, we hope these options get them through a difficult time,” Waldo said. “The most important thing for customers to do if they’re having trouble is to call us. Our Customer Solutions Center representatives are dedicated to helping customers when times are tough.”

The toll-free number for Appalachian Power’s Customer Solutions Center is 1-866-276-5831.
            
Appalachian Power provides electricity to 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with 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.