COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 21, 2006 – With energy use on the rise, AEP Ohio, an American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) operating unit, has introduced new, web-based home energy calculators to help customers determine how to save money on their electricity bills. The calculators determine the costs of heating and cooling a home and of operating common appliances, electronic devices and lighting, enabling customers to make informed choices to help reduce the amount of electricity they use in their homes, according to Kevin E. Walker, AEP Ohio president and COO.
 
“We are all impacted by higher energy costs, and while many of us might know how to save money at the pump by maintaining our car and reducing the miles we drive, customers often don’t know how much electricity is used by different appliances and devices in their home and potential steps they can take to reduce that use and save money,” Walker said. 
 
The calculators automatically input the electricity rate for customers of AEP Ohio, making it easy to calculate the base energy costs of a home and the costs of operating common devices and appliances like air conditioners, hot water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, televisions, home computers and light bulbs. Customers simply need to confirm the size of their home, thermostat settings and the wattage and hours of use for any appliance or electronic device that they want to evaluate. The calculators then can automatically determine how much it costs or saves to change the setting on the thermostat or to operate an appliance or device for a period of time. The calculator site also provides advice on how to reduce usage and save money.

Three different energy-savings calculators can be accessed through the AEP Ohio website at www.aepohio.com.  The home energy calculator will calculate a base cost for the home and can be used to determine the impact of changing the temperature setting on a thermostat or the setting on a hot water heater.  The appliance calculator can help customers assess the cost of using appliances and electronic devices like televisions, computers and stereos.  A separate lighting calculator can help customers determine the monthly and yearly electricity and money savings possible through replacement of incandescent bulbs based on how long a fixture is used daily. 

In addition to calculating a home´s energy use or that of common appliances and other electronic devices, AEP Ohio´s home energy calculator site includes general tips for reducing electricity use and saving money in your home. 

"Customers not interested in determining the impact of adjusting their thermostat or evaluating the energy use of different appliances can still learn quick ways to save electricity by visiting the site.  For example, the site offers tips for saving money on summer air conditioning costs, including recommended thermostat settings and reminders that closing blinds and drapes in sunny windows helps reduce the amount of time that your air conditioner must run to cool your home," Walker said. 

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.
 
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 36,000 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 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 Texas).  American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2006.