COLUMBUS, Ohio, Aug. 1, 2006 – With this week’s hotter weather across the AEP Ohio service territory, the company is reminding customers that demand for electricity will increase and is offering several tips on how to save energy and money as temperatures rise.

While AEP Ohio expects to have enough electricity to meet the heavy demand for power, the company offers the following tips to help customers use energy wisely during the hot weather:

• Set the air conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees and use ceiling fans to help circulate the cool air.
• Install a programmable thermostat to use less energy cooling when you are away or sleeping.
• Close blinds and curtains to keep out sun and retain cooler air inside.
• Avoid using heat-producing appliances, such as ovens and clothes dryers, during the hottest times of the day.
• Weatherstrip doors and windows to prevent air leaks, and make sure all windows and doors are closed when the air conditioning unit is operating.
• Ensure that air conditioning equipment is inspected and serviced each year by a licensed contractor to ensure maximum efficiency.
• Replace or clean your air conditioning filter on a regular basis.
   

“We know the challenges presented by this week’s forecast of above-normal temperatures,” said AEP Ohio President and Chief Operating Officer Kevin E. Walker.  “We encourage our customers to explore ways to better manage their energy usage to help control summer cooling costs.”

More energy conservation tips are available on the internet at www.AEPOhio.com.

AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP subsidiaries Columbus Southern Power Company and Ohio Power Company in Ohio, and Wheeling Power Company in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power.