Charleston, W.Va., December 3, 2008 – For more than 25 yea­­rs Appalachian Power has encouraged customers to donate funds toward the electric heating bills of people in need. This year the company is stepping up its efforts by partnering with the West Virginia Utility Assistance Program, an initiative of Dollar Energy Fund, Inc., and doubling the amount contributed to the program by stockholders.

“Partnering with the West Virginia Utility Assistance Program increases the reach of potential contributors,” said Dana Waldo, Appalachian Power president and COO. “Contributions from Appalachian and its customers will truly help keep hundreds, possibly thousands, of West Virginians warm this winter.”

The program allows Appalachian Power customers to contribute money toward the payment of low income customers’ winter electric bills. In addition to money contributed by customers, company stockholders are contributing $100,000 to the fund – double the amount pledged earlier this year when the company announced its partnership with the program.

The company is also funding low income heating assistance programs in Virginia and Tennessee with a combined contribution of $110,000.
The West Virginia Utility Assistance Program began accepting contributions October 1. Since then, the fund has assisted approximately 736 households statewide with grants totaling approximately $213,850. This includes 260 customers in Appalachian Power’s service area who received a combined total of more than $61,000.

Customers may contribute to the West Virginia Utility Assistance Program by using the check-box feature on their Appalachian Power utility bills. Customers who wish to contribute by check should make their checks payable to “Appalachian Power, West Virginia Utility Assistance Program” and send them to Appalachian Power, P.O. Box 24404,
Canton, OH 44701-4404. The tax deductible contributions are distributed in the state in which they originate, and those making donations will receive a receipt. Customers can also contribute or find out if they are eligible for assistance at www.DollarEnergyFund.org. Contributions to the Dollar Energy program are accepted all year.
            Since Appalachian Power founded its heating assistance program in 1983, customers and stockholders have contributed approximately $5.4 million to help pay the energy bills of nearly 82,000 needy customers in West Virginia and Virginia. In Tennessee the program started in 1986 and since then customers and stockholders have contributed approximately $345,000 to help pay bills for more than 3,800 customers.
            The eligibility of recipients is determined and funds are distributed in West Virginia by the Salvation Army.
            The company reports that during the winter of 2007-2008, customers contributed $62,665 to the company’s heating assistance program. With the company’s contribution, $167,665 went toward the electric bills of 2,054 customers.
            By state, the contributions breakdown for 2007-2008 was as follows:

State	Customer Contribution	Company Contribution	Total Contribution	Customers Helped
West Virginia	$ 19,381	$   50,000	$   69,381	1,129
Virginia	$ 38,739	$   50,000	$   88,739	818
Tennessee	$    4,545	$     5,000	$     9,545	107
Total	$ 62,665	$105,000	$167,665	2,054

 
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.

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