LIMA, Ohio, January 29, 2014 – AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), and the city of Lima are partnering to help residents and businesses reduce energy use and costs through a pilot program called Community Energy Savers.

            Community Energy Savers, launched by AEP Ohio, works with communities to encourage residents and businesses to participate in energy efficiency programs offered by AEP Ohio.

            Not only do community members benefit from saving energy and money in their homes and businesses, their actions also help the community receive incentives from AEP Ohio that can be put towards an improvement project identified by the community.

            “AEP Ohio continually seeks to improve the quality of life in the communities where we live and work. That’s why we are enthusiastic about joining with communities in our new Energy Savers program,” said Jon Williams, energy efficiency and consumer programs manager for AEP Ohio.  “The program helps to educate residents about our energy-saving programs as well as the many solutions and incentives available for businesses.”

            Mayor David J. Berger will announce the city of Lima’s participation in the AEP Ohio Community Energy Savers pilot program during a press conference today at 10:30 a.m. in the council chambers of the Municipal Building at 50 Town Square in Lima.

            Working with the city of Lima, AEP Ohio has established a goal of 750 participants by June 30. If this goal is reached in time, Lima, the first community to participate in the Energy Savers program, will use the incentive award from AEP Ohio to complete energy efficiency lighting upgrades at Simmons Field, home of the Lima Locos and other areas baseball teams. Improvements to Simmons Field will help the city of Lima reduce annual energy costs and make the field better for players and fans.

            “We are excited to partner with AEP Ohio on Lima Energy Savers and help our residents and businesses become more energy efficient,” says Howard Elstro,
director of Public Works for the city of Lima. “In addition, we look forward to the opportunity to improve the lighting quality and efficiency at Simmons Field for continued use by the Locos, other regional baseball teams and all of the fans.”

            Lima residents who are customers of AEP Ohio, and who receive their generation supply from a different electric generation service provider or AEP Ohio, can participate in Energy Savers in a variety of ways. For instance, customers can recycle their old, inefficient refrigerators through the Appliance Recycling program and receive a $50 incentive check plus free pickup. Customers also can schedule an assessment with the In-home Energy program to identify and correct areas in their homes where they may be wasting energy. Technical support and financial incentives are also available for business customers that install energy efficient equipment and technologies.

            To learn more about how to participate and help your community, visit EnergySavers2014.com.

            Visit AEPOhio.com/WasteLess for information about AEP Ohio’s energy efficiency programs for residents. For information about energy efficiency programs for businesses, visit AEPOhio.com/Solutions.

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            Investor-owned utilities in Ohio are required to meet specific energy reduction targets. AEP Ohio’s overall energy efficiency and peak demand response efforts were established to meet the State of Ohio target of reducing electricity consumption 22 percent by the end of 2025.  For more information about AEP Ohio’s energy efficiency residential programs, visit AEPOhio.com/WasteLess. For information about AEP Ohio’s energy efficiency business programs, visit AEPOhio.com/Solutions.

            AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP subsidiaries 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. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.

            American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering 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. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east and north Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. News releases and other information about AEP can be found at aep.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

AEP Ohio

Fay White
(866) 641-1151 or (614) 883-7999
aepohiomediarelations@aep.com