CHARLESTON, W.Va., October 6, 2006 – Appalachian Power recently implemented two new tools to help find and prosecute thieves who raid the company’s electrical facilities and put lives in jeopardy in pursuit of scrap metal. 
 
In September the company implemented a reward program across Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee, and in southern West Virginia Appalachian is partnering with Crime Stoppers, a regional tip line where callers can provide anonymous information about crimes. The Crime Stoppers telephone number is (304) 255-STOP (or 7867).
 
“We’re hopeful that these two new initiatives will curb the dangerous practice of stealing power company equipment, especially in our southern West Virginia territory where we’ve seen a rash of crime activity in recent weeks,” said Gary McGraw, region security coordinator for Appalachian Power. “The theft of equipment that delivers electricity is a deadly practice that puts the public, power company employees and the thieves’ lives in danger.”
 
With recent rises in the price of scrap metal, utilities across the country are seeing increase in the theft of electrical equipment, especially aluminum and copper conductor. In addition to the anonymous Crime Stoppers line, Appalachian Power established a toll-free crime line – 1- 866-747- 5845 –   to report suspected theft or tampering with electrical equipment.
 
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, 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 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.