ROANOKE, Va., November 21, 2013 – Appalachian Power today filed a request with the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) to build an electric transmission project in parts of northern Campbell County and the southern part of the City of Lynchburg. The project will add one new substation and nine miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) transmission line to connect existing substations and ensure adequate and reliable electric service to accommodate future growth in the South Lynchburg area.

Appalachian introduced the project in November 2012. After extensive public comment, the company identified a preliminary preferred route and announced it in March 2013. It is the same route filed with regulators today. The 9.3-mile preferred route connects the company’s South Lynchburg, George Street and Brush Tavern substations to a new Lynbrook Substation in Campbell County.

"We have thoroughly evaluated routing options based on stakeholder input and available data," said David Wright, project manager. "As a result, we identified a route that parallels existing rail and utility infrastructure as much as possible in order to minimize project impact."

Today’s application begins the state-level review of the project. The company hopes to complete the project for a desired in-service date of June 30, 2017. Its estimated overall cost is approximately $28 million.

The South Lynchburg Area Improvements Project is necessary to ensure adequate and reliable electric service and to accommodate future growth within Campbell County and the City of Lynchburg.

Additional information about the project, including maps, photos, fact sheets and the company’s SCC filing, is available at AppalachianPower.com/Lynchburg. Public participation opportunities continue during the Virginia SCC process.

Appalachian Power has 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, which delivers 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.