APCO announced on Wednesday that it had taken a major step towards reducing customer bills in an application filed with the Virginia State Corporation Commission.

With the temperature continuing to rise as the calendar flips over to the summer months, many in the Southwestern Virginia area may be looking to keep themselves cool while saving some money.

Radford City has recently readjusted its budget to address a growing deficit affecting the community. 10 News spoke with city leaders to learn about the situation.

Appalachian Power (AEP) has submitted a request to the State Corporation Commision (SCC) to increase customer rates to defray the cost of renewable energy projects and to keep their current coal and natural gas plants compliant with environmental regulations.

After the severe weather our region experienced on Friday, many areas were left without power, peaking at 38,000 Appalachian Power customers. The company is currently working to restore power to high-outage areas.

Two public schools in the Roanoke County district, William Byrd Middle School and William Byrd High School, will be closed on Tuesday due to a power outage, according to school officials.

Appalachian Power representatives have selected a proposed route for a new transmission line in Campbell County, Pittsylvania County, and Altavista. The upgrades are part of the Altavista-Leesville Transmission Improvements Project, which involves rebuilding approximately 4.5 miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line in or near the existing right-of-way and building approximately 5 miles of 138-kV transmission line parallel to existing transmission lines.

The power company is using millions in funds from a recent rate increase to catch up on maintenance and tree-trimming along power lines.

For those of us reeling from high power bills after this winter's bitter cold, relief may be on the way.

Virginia legislators have passed the state budget and with it comes more money for flood recovery and grants for first time home buyers.

Appalachian Power company gave an update on outages and the company’s response to outages in our region. As of 9 a.m. Sunday 27,400 are still without power including 19,500 customers in Virginia.

The latest winter storm, now dubbed Winter Storm Harlow, still has many Virginians without power.

The aftermath of this week’s winter storm has left damage across our area, including widespread power outages from downed trees.

The Floyd County Board of Supervisors ordered a state of emergency within the County and a local emergency due to severe winter weather.

Franklin County has declared a local state of emergency and activated its Emergency Operations Center to respond to a recent winter storm that caused widespread power outages and hazardous road conditions.

With all this winter weather still coming down, power outages are a major concern.

As Winter Storm Harlow continues to impact the region, Appalachian Power urges residents to prioritize safety during power outages. With freezing rain and ice causing hazardous conditions, it’s essential to take precautions to protect yourself and your family.

The winter storm sweeping through has left 34,322 Appalachian Power customers in our region without power, with numbers rising.

Many areas of our region are expected to be without power on Tuesday and Wednesday.

During the wintertime, there’s no question many of us are going to be using more electricity than the summertime. For some, they are seeing electric bills that are daunting to pay.

Scruggs Volunteer Fire and Rescue Chief Dempsey Moore says he’s seen a lot in 28 years with the department, but nothing quite like this.

As the region deals with the aftermath of the recent winter storm, icy conditions continue to make travel challenging. While main roads are typically prioritized for snow removal, many back roads and parking lots remain neglected, with crews still working around the clock to make roads safe and bring conditions back to normal.

Thousands of people are in the dark Monday morning due to a wintry weather mix that has hit a large portion of Central and Southwest Virginia.

A downed live wire is currently causing trees to burn and pop as they heat up across Snowberry Hill.

Thousands of people are still in the dark Tuesday morning due to a wintry weather mix that has hit a large portion of Central and Southwest Virginia.

Appalachian Power Company gave an update on storm preparations and response to possible outages Sunday afternoon.

Heavy winds Wednesday have caused many to be without power and dangerous driving conditions in our region.

If you’re in the dark Friday afternoon, you’re not alone!

Some Appalachian Power Company users have been experiencing power outages due to the storms that have been rolling through the region.

Thousands of AEP customers are currently without power in Roanoke County.

Power has been restored to Appalachian Power customers who experienced an outage in Southeast Roanoke early Sunday morning.

Appalachian Power said recreational users of the New and Roanoke rivers could see water levels rise.

The Buck Portage on the New River will be closed for two weeks to allow for routine maintenance repairs on the Buck Dam.

Heat waves are overworking air conditioners, leading to increased electric bills and a surge in people seeking financial assistance to keep their homes cool.

AEP officials requested the Virginia State Corporation Commission to lower the cost for customers by $2.12 on average per month.

Here are some food safety tips to prevent food spoilage during power outages.

Appalachian Power is planning to overhaul their infrastructure in Montgomery County and they are looking for your input.

Ahead of the storm, Appalachian Power is preparing in case there are any outages.

Thousands of AEP customers across Virginia are in the dark Friday morning after the state was battered by severe weather Thursday night.

A vehicle crashed into a utility pole early Thursday morning and has led to road closures, according to the Roanoke Police Department.

Avoid Virginia Avenue in Vinton if you can!

AAA says drivers need to be extra careful before hitting the roads this weekend.

Appalachian Power has reached an agreement with the State Corporation Commission on a proposed rate increase.

AEP wants boaters, kayakers, tubers, and other recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville dams to keep safety top of mind next week.

Power has been restored to much of Lynchburg, according to Appalachian Power.

Power has been restored to hundreds of customers in Amherst County.

More than 1,300 AEP customers are without power throughout the Commonwealth as heavy rain pummels the state.

As of 4:28 a.m., 3,750 AEP customers in Roanoke County are in the dark this morning, according to Appalachian Power.

Heads up, drivers! Avoid Carlos Drive near 5119 Hollins Road if you can.

Appalachian Power has submitted its triennial rate review application to the Virginia State Corporation Commission, asking to increase rates by about $212 million or 16%.

AEP reports more than 20,000 customers without power in Virginia.

Appalachian Power is releasing an update after high winds left more than 58,000 customers without power across its entire service area Saturday evening.

Appalachian Power is providing a storm response update following Friday’s heavy rain and high winds across the region.

Appalachian Power shares some tips and things to keep in mind for severe weather

A Bedford County woman is speaking out after seeing a spike in her daughter’s electric bill. She said the bill increased, sometimes doubling or even tripling.

Several schools in the Roanoke County school district will be closed today due to significant power outages in the area.

For every 1,000 kilowatts of power used, there will be an extra $20 on your electric bill.

Appalachian Power said their crews have restored power for 90% of their customers as of Tuesday afternoon.

AEP started this winter storm with over 50,000 customer without power, most of which were in Virginia.

Crews are trying to make sure those who don’t have power, or may lose power, have emergency plans in place.

The few days leading up to Christmas are said to be the busiest during the holiday travel season. That, paired with the threat of cold and ice, could make driving even more difficult.

Westside Elementary School will be closed on Wednesday due to a power outage, according to officials with Roanoke City Public Schools.

Appalachian Power says Virginia customers can expect their monthly electric bills to increase by about $20 starting Nov. 1.

The new lights offer lower maintenance and substantially lower electricity costs.

Nearly 2,000 AEP customers are in the dark following thunderstorms and showers throughout Central and Southwest Virginia.

Intense thunderstorms that rolled through Appalachian Power’s three-state service area late Friday afternoon left a little more than 130,000 customers without power.

Martinsville welcomed a new AEP battery storage station to help cut power costs for thousands of residents.

Ocal “Bubba” Smith said his complaints about unsafe work conditions led to his termination in March 2019.

We first warned you about this back in October. Now, many of us are paying the price to keep our homes warm.

Appalachian Power said the main reason for thousands of outages from the last storm was the amount of snowfall.

A broken power pole in Roanoke County has caused more than 1,000 people to lose power on Wednesday morning.

Some residents across Southwest Virginia are experiencing power outages due to Wednesday’s storms.

Around 150 people are without power on Monday morning, according to Appalachian Power.

Starting in July, Appalachian Power customers will see their bill go up by around $11.

If you live in Martinsville, you could experience some power outages this week.

ROANOKE, Va. – Appalachian Power customers could see an 11% increase in their monthly electric bill starting in July. According to the company, this $11.52 increase in the monthly bill is part of AEP’s effort to recover transmission costs. Last week, the company filed a request with the Virginia State Corporation Commission and asked for a rate increase for the first time since 2017. Officials said the increase would be used for transmission services, fees and new construction. AEP is making investments to improve its transmission infrastructure to improve grid reliability and to prepare for the predicted growth in renewable generation, according to the release.

AEP outages as of 5 p.m.Thousands are without power as Southwest and Central Virginia are experiencing wintry weather. Below are the worst outage areas among the 2,724 Appalachian Power customers in Virginia without power:County/City Customer Outages Pulaski County 1,347 Montgomery County 500 Wythe County 162 Roanoke County 148 Giles County 144 Pittsylvania County 94 Carroll County 28 Smyth County 20 Franklin County 41 Grayson County Fewer than 5Here’s a breakdown of the Dominion Energy customers in our region without power:Charlotte County: 44Halifax County: 169Alleghany County: 36Danville officials say that 1,200 customers on Memorial Drive, Lanier Avenue, Park Avenue, Bishop Road and across the river on Piedmont Drive are without power. Here’s a breakdown of the Mecklenburg Electric customers in our region without power:Halifax County: 608Pittsylvania County: 459Here’s a breakdown of the BARC Electric Cooperative customers in our region without power:AdHighland County: 109Here’s a breakdown of the Southside Electric Cooperative customers in our region without power:

APPOMATTOX COUNTY, Va. – This winter weather could cause power outages across our area. Appalachian Power is concerned about the weekend, but a spokesperson tells 10 News their crews and trucks are ready to go. “Everybody that is an employee or contractor is on alert, which means that they know once they get that notification, they head out,” said Teresa Hall with Appalachian Power. She also says you should have supplies ready at home, including vehicle chargers for your mobile devices, and patience, as it takes crews longer to repair outages because of slippery roads and walkways. Click here for Appalachian Power’s outage map.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Thousands were without power in Franklin County because of equipment issues, according to Appalachian Power. Two outages are affecting more than 4,000 AEP customers on Tuesday. The first began shortly after 2 p.m., while the other started about an hour later. Both are due to equipment-related issues and were resolved by 4:30 p.m.Click here to see Appalachian Power’s outage map.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – Appalachian Power reported power outages in the Lynchburg area on Friday night. More than 2,000 customers were without power, according to AEP. It’s not clear what caused the outage. Here is a look at the number of customer outages, as of 10:58 p.m. Friday:

ROANOKE, Va. – According to Appalachian Power’s outage map, more than 1,700 customers in Roanoke are without power. Traffic lights are also out at a dozen intersections due to the power outage. Roanoke Police reminds drivers to treat down traffic lights as a stop sign to keep traffic moving safely. TRAFFIC ALERT: Several red lights are out throughout the City of Roanoke. #RPDTrafficAlert pic.twitter.com/HvXrqnakF0 — Roanoke Police (@rpdsafercity) November 1, 2020The power company is aware of the outages and estimate service will be restored to majority of customers by 12:30 p.m.

Today’s session begins at 5:30 p.m.Lynchburg City Council will meet in closed session today to discuss a contract with a recruitment company, in its search for a city manager. The U. S. Forest Service holds a virtual public meeting today about Oak and Woodland restoration project. The Roanoke City School Board will hold a special meeting today. Virginia’s first electric school buses roll out today. Fifty school buses will be delivered to school districts across the Commonwealth this year as part of Dominion Energy’s Electric School Bus program.

LYNCHBURG, Va. – AEP is repairing its transmission line that supplies Liberty University, which will force a shutdown of power to the campus. Right now, a temporary fix is in place, but in order to make full repairs, at 10:15 p.m. all power will be shut down on main campus. All non-residential buildings will be locked down at 10 p.m. and everyone must leave those buildings, according to the university. Curfew for resident students will begin at 10 p.m. and Liberty will delay opening on Tuesday until 9 am. If you lose power before 10 pm, call LUPD at 434-592-7641Campus police and all essential functions will remain operational during this shut-down.

ROANOKE, Va – The Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Virginia got a big donation Friday to help families who have a child in the hospital. American Electric Power (AEP) donated more than $10,000 from proceeds made from donated scrap metal. Officials with AEP said they were happy to help in any way they can. “I have had family, loved ones that have all been able to benefit from the Ronald McDonald houses and all the things they are able provide for the families that come down here for the hospital,” said AEP Associate Reese Edwards. Staff at the Ronald McDonald House said the money will go a long way since several fundraisers have had to be called off because of the pandemic.

Appalachian Power Company anticipates that based on weather and river flow forecasts, Smith Mountain Lake will rise about one foot above normal full pond sometime on Thursday morning. Full pond for Smith Mountain Lake is 795 feet, and as of 11:05 p.m. Wednesday night, it was at 795.78 feet, according to AEP. The company said that allowing the lake level to rise above full pond will help prevent more flooding downstream of the Smith Mountain Project. Property and boat owners are asked to secure their belongings as a precaution.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. About 1,000 tons of debris was collected last week from both Smith Mountain and Leesville lakes. Cruising through the Blackwater stretch of Smith Mountain Lake on Wednesday, you could still see plenty of debris in the water. Little by little, an excavator on a barge is scooping up debris floating on the water. Around 6,000 tons of debris was collected from the two lakes in 2019. Debris can be reported through AEPs customer solutions center or website or through the Tri-County Lakes Administrative Commissions website.

ROANOKE, Va. – Hundreds of households are without power as severe weather makes its way through our area Wednesday morning. According to AEP, there are 911 homes without power in Virginia as of 7:30 a.m. Here is a county-by-county breakdown for our region:

ROANOKE, Va. – Work to develop a popular Roanoke park is ahead of schedule. The parking lot has been paved, tennis courts have been added, and the new fields have been seeded at River’s Edge North Park. The city’s Parks and Recreation Department’s goal is to have the park ready to use for the Ironman race in June. "Once that’s completed, AEP will bring in the transformer and we’ll light it all up. That shouldn’t take more than 30 days from now.”After that, a final layer of asphalt will be put down and any remaining seeding will be done.

An image from AEP's outage center showing the areas affected by the outage. ROANOKE, Va. - Hundreds were without power in downtown Roanoke after Tuesday evening's storms. AEP initially reported two outages are affecting 607 customers as of 6:01 p.m.As of 8:01 p.m. one outage is down to 126 customers with an estimated restoration time of 9 p.m. The other outage is impacting 327 customers has an estimated restoration of 2 a.m. Wednesday. Copyright 2019 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved.