With temperatures expected in the upper 80’s and 90’s this week, American Electric Power (AEP) has canceled some operational activities to ensure the safety of its customers and employees.
All power outages scheduled to occur this week as part of routine maintenance have been canceled. In addition, the company will not perform routine helicopter tree trimming work. Crews will perform work to restore power in the event an outage occurs.
“It’s going to be extremely hot this week and we don’t want to inconvenience customers by taking the power out for scheduled maintenance,” said Jason Baker, vice president distribution operations. “We hope postponing this work will help customers focus on staying healthy and hydrated during these extreme temperatures.”
During this period of hot weather, air conditioners will be working hard to keep homes comfortable, which increases energy use and electric bills.
AEP encourages customers to take steps to help save energy and money.
ENERGY-SAVINGS TIPS
- Set thermostats just a few degrees higher, especially when you aren’t home.
- Avoid using heat-producing appliances such as ovens or dryers during the hottest parts of the day.
- Keep windows covered during the day, especially those facing south, to save on cooling costs.
- Ensure ceiling fans are spinning counterclockwise to push cooler air down.
- Unplug appliances and electronics when not in use.
Customers can find additional tips at AppalachianPower.com and by checking their energy dashboard for personalized recommendations.
AEP is also coordinating with PJM, its regional transmission organization, to monitor the supply and demand for electricity in this region.
Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is part of American Electric Power, which is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions. AEP’s approximately 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP is also one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including 6,000 megawatts of renewable energy.
