Roanoke, Va., October 30, 2008 – For the 25^th consecutive year Appalachian Power is encouraging customers to contribute toward paying the electric heating bills for people in need through the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program.  This year the company will contribute at least $55,000 toward the program in the company’s Virginia and Tennessee service area.
           
Appalachian Power’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program is conducted each year in cooperation with state human service agencies. The program allows Appalachian Power customers to contribute money toward the payment of low-income customers’ winter energy bills, when usage is the highest. In addition to money contributed by customers, company stockholders are making an initial contribution of $55,000 to the program, $50,000 in Virginia and $5,000 in Tennessee.

In 2008 the company began partnering with Dollar Energy to raise funds for needy customers in West Virginia. The company is making an initial $50,000 contribution to that program this year. Dollar Energy Fund is the fourth largest hardship fund in the United States.

Since the Neighbor-to-Neighbor program began 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 Virginia by the Department of Social Services, and in Tennessee by the Upper East Tennessee Human Development Agency. All funds contributed to the program go directly to help those in need, with administrative costs borne by Appalachian and the outside agency.
           
“We’re proud to partner with Appalachian Power.  We see many families who need help keeping warm during the cold winter months and the contributions made to the program truly make a difference in the lives of the needy.  The program shows great community stewardship,” said Virginia Department of Social Services Commissioner Anthony Conyers Jr.

Contributions to the program are accepted through February 28. Customers who wish to contribute should make their checks payable to “Appalachian Power, Neighbor-to-Neighbor 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.
           
The company reports that during the winter of 2007-2008, customers contributed $62,665 to the program. With the company’s contribution, more than $167,665 went toward the electric bills of nearly 2,095 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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