A new ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator uses less than half as much energy as one made prior to 1993. New models use less energy than a 75-watt light bulb.

GAHANNA, Ohio, September 26, 2011 – AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), has introduced a $25 rebate on ENERGY STAR^® refrigerators at select retailers that sell appliances throughout Ohio in an effort to increase consumer awareness and encourage the purchase of  energy efficient products.          

ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerators use up to 40 percent less energy than the conventional models sold in 2001 and at least 20 percent less energy than models built to current federal standards. These refrigerators feature high-efficiency compressors, improved insulation, and more precise temperature and defrost mechanisms.      

“AEP Ohio residential customers who purchase an ENERGY STAR qualified refrigerator during the last quarter of this year are invited to receive a $25 mail-in rebate,” said Jon Williams, AEP Ohio manager energy efficiency and peak demand response.  “Rebate forms are readily available at participating retailers and on our website at gridSMARTOhio.com.”  Program eligibility requires an individual to be a current AEP Ohio residential service customer residing in Ohio, and rebate forms must be postmarked no later than January 15, 2012.   

If you have an older refrigerator in your basement or garage, it could be costing you over $100, per year to keep it running. That is a stiff price to pay to keep extra beverages cool.  For families that truly need a second refrigerator year round, replace the old one with a new ENERGY STAR unit and save over $55 per year, or retire and recycle pre-1993 refrigerators permanently by having AEP Ohio pickup and recycle it for free while also earning a $35 rebate. You’ll reclaim valuable storage space for other household items.  To schedule your free refrigerator pickup through the AEP Ohio Appliance Recycling Program, call 1-877-545-4112 or go to gridSMARTOhio.com for more information.       

The AEP Ohio ENERGY STAR Appliance Rebate Program and Appliance Recycling Program are part of the company’s gridSMART^® initiative to help customers use less energy, lower energy costs, conserve natural resources and protect the environment.  For additional information about AEP Ohio’s energy efficiency program portfolio, visit gridSMARTOhio.com

ENERGY STAR^® is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy working with manufacturers to help consumers throughout the United States identify, purchase and use energy efficient appliances, lighting, electronics and other products. The goals are to save energy, save money and reduce pollution.

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 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 www.aep.com.

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