Winter weather has hit our region with bitter temperatures and high wind.  I talked to Appalachian Power leaders on how they prepare for this weather.

A power outage has forced Giles High School to close, according to the school division.

Wythe County has announced they are opening Fort Chiswell High School as a temporary shelter for locals in need.

The State Corporation Commission (SCC) is expected to vote on Tuesday on a proposed rate increase

Strong storms left thousands without power. Crews worked into the evening to restore power.

A grant for a reuse study has been given to Giles County to see how they can repurpose the old Glen Lyn Appalachian Coal Power Plant building.

You might be concerned that your A/C is working overtime with the scorching temperatures this summer. However, Appalachian Power has suggestions to help you save money and stay cool.

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.

Power has been restored for thousands of residents across Southwest Virginia after storms moved through Friday evening.

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.

Appalachian power warns that users downstream of the Claytor and Leesville Damns that they could see their water levels rise rapidly starting Thursday.

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

Appalachian Power is set to start a major construction project that will help make electricity more reliable and reduce outages for its customers in South Christiansburg within the next couple of years.

Thousands of people are still without power Tuesday morning after severe weather swept through the state.

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.

Appalachian Power customers may soon see a slight increase in their monthly electric bill.

Power has been restored to thousands of Appalachian Power customers across the Commonwealth after strong winds disrupted service.

Hundreds of residents across Southwest Virginia are without power Tuesday morning as strong winds continue to move through the state.

Back in August, the base rate of electricity was raised due to inflation.

Fire officials are reminding people to avoid heating your home with grills and ovens.

With more wet weather on the way, we’ve been working for you to talk to Appalachian Power about how they are staying prepared.

Hundreds of residents across Southwest Virginia are without power after a storm system moved through Tuesday afternoon.

Power was restored for hundreds of residents in Southwest and Central Virginia after winter weather moved through the region Saturday morning.

With the possibility of a winter storm looming, we’ve been checking in with local agencies in charge of keeping the roads clear and the power on.

Hundreds are without power in Central and Southwest Virginia as rain and strong winds from Tropical Storm Ophelia continues to roll through the Commonwealth.

Some people are in the dark Friday after storms rolled through Thursday evening.

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 for most people across Southwest Virginia.

Thousands were without power in Central and Southwest Virginia following the strong winds that rolled through the region Friday night and Saturday morning.

If you woke up in the dark Thursday morning, you're not alone.

Appalachian Power has restored power for most customers.

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

Appalachian Power is warning recreational users downstream of Claytor and Leesville damns to be aware of water levels on the New and Roanoke rivers, as they could rise rapidly starting Friday and continue to fluctuate throughout the weekend.

The State Corporation Commission is giving the public a chance to weigh in on a proposed Appalachian Power rate increase.

Strong storms swept across the region, bringing heavy winds, crazy storm clouds, and several warnings and threats.

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.

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%.

Heavy winds swept through our region this weekend and now cleanup is underway.

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

Thousands were without power in Central and Southwest Virginia following the strong winds that rolled through the region Friday night and Saturday morning.

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

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.

Thousands are without power in Central and Southwest Virginia as wintry weather continues to roll through the Commonwealth.

Appalachian Power is issuing a warning for those heading downstream of the Claytor and Leesville dams for recreational use.

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.

Your next Appalachian Power bill will likely be higher than it was this time last year or even last month. For the second time, the local utility company has introduced a second rate hike citing inflation as the reason.

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

As the weather gets nice and you hit the water with your family or friends, Appalachian Power wants you to keep safety top of mind.

Appalachian Power said that the route is for electrical upgrades and its purpose is to support economic development and increase reliability in the area.

Thousands are without power due to a handful of severe storms that moved through the region on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, Appalachian Power released a statement that advised river-goers to air on the side of caution beginning Thursday.

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.

Thousands are without power after severe storms rolled through the region overnight.

Hundreds are in the dark Tuesday morning in Montgomery County as strong storms move across our area.

After a EF-2 tornado barreled through a neighborhood in Bedford County, dozens of people work to clean up the mess.

Thousands are without power in Virginia due to severe weather.

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

There are thousands without power due to severe weather in our viewing area.

High winds and waves Friday into Saturday broke the floating boat barrier that keeps boaters away from the Smith Mountain Dam forebay. Appalachian Power is warning boaters to avoid the intake side.

Myriads in Central and Southwest Virginia are in the dark following Wednesday’s storm.

Thousands will start their Sunday in the dark. Appalachian Power repots more than 2,000 customers without service as of 5:45 a.m. Sunday.

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

A neighborhood in Wirtz is just one of many in our corner of the Commonwealth that lost power due to Monday morning’s snowstorm.

Monday morning’s snow has left many without power.

After two years of construction, residents say it’s about time.

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.

Monday’s storms have left many people in Southside without power.

People in Pulaski County are recovering from the aftermath of Monday night’s storms which left many American Electric Power customers with no electricity.

You might think a summer scorcher may be torture on your cooling costs, but Appalachian Power has suggestions to save on your bill.

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.

Tuesday afternoon’s powerful storms have left many without power.

Students at William Byrd Middle School and William Byrd High School will not have classes on Friday because of a power outage across both schools.

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.

PULASKI COUNTY, Va. – Winter weather caused widespread damage and power outages across the New River Valley. The icy mess meant downed power lines and downed trees in Pulaski County. The main roads were pretty clear, but side roads were covered with ice, weighing down branches and snapping tree limbs. Like, if you don’t have to be out, II recommend staying home,” said Heather Fizer, who lives in Pulaski County. AEP doesn’t have any estimates yet when power might get restored because ice-covered branches and power lines are still causing outages.

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:

Appalachian Power customers out of power on Feb. 16Thousands are still without power across southwest and central Virginia as the region braces for more winter weather Thursday. Below is a breakdown of local counties covered by Appalachian Power and the number of outages they’re experiencing:Bedford: 93Campbell: 437Floyd: 2,163Franklin: 2,887Henry: 1,114Patrick: 208Pittsylvania: 658Roanoke: 626Below is a breakdown of local counties covered by Mecklenburg Electric:Halifax: 2,602Pittsylvania: 2,070Danville Utilities is reporting 4,699 outages.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. – Thousands are still in the dark in Franklin County after the weekend’s winter weather. “It was really bad,” said Appalachian Power line mechanic James Boyd. Appalachian Power crews are working around the clock, dodging downed trees themselves, to restore power after the weekend’s winter weather. Appalachian Power had about 1,000 workers on the ground, prioritizing critical services like hospitals and fire departments first, then tackling larger outages. “We look at larger outages, then work down from there,” said Appalachian Power Spokesperson Teresa Hall.

Tree down in DanvilleROANOKE, Va. – Saturday’s winter weather continues to cause thousands to lose power. As of 10:15 p.m. Monday, Appalachian Power is reporting 9,011 customers without power in Virginia. Here’s a county-by-county breakdown:2,895 customers in Halifax County1,541 customers in Charlotte County1,138 customers in Pittsylvania County665 customers in Campbell County420 customers in Appomattox CountyAs of 10:20 p.m. Monday, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative is reporting 5,388 customers without power in our region. Here’s a county-by-county breakdown:2,751 members in Halifax County2,441 members in Pittsylvania County196 members in Charlotte CountyAs of 10:20 p.m. Monday, Southside Electric Cooperative is reporting ‬8,994 customers without power in our region. Here’s a county-by-county breakdown:3,405 members in Charlotte County3,039 members in Campbell County1,469 members in Bedford County866 members in Pittsylvania County215 members in Appomattox CountyAs of 10:24 p.m. Monday, Danville Utilities reports 1,556 customers are 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.

The Virginia General Assembly will meet in Special Session starting today. Governor Northam is calling lawmakers back to lengthen this year’s session to 46 days, after Republic lawmakers tried to cut it short. GOP leaders said 30 days should have been enough time after last year’s lengthy special session. The project involved replacing some older equipment and installing additional equipment to increase electric reliability in the region. The Danville-Pittsylvania County Chamber of Commerce holds its annual membership meeting today.

Thousands of Appalachian Power customers saw power outages on Thursday evening. Hundreds of Appalachian Power customers saw power outages on Thursday evening. Crews are still assessing many of the outages so it’s not clear when power will be restored. Here is a breakdown of customer outages, from Appalachian Power, as of 10:29 p.m.:Pulaski County - 190Grayson County - 127Franklin County - 110Wythe County - 90Roanoke County - 61Montgomery County - 57Roanoke City - 53Giles County - 33Bland County - 22Buchanan - 19Carroll County - 19Galax - 9Floyd County - 6This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

Appalachian Power outage map as of 6:10 p.m. on Dec. 16, 2020. With wintry weather conditions affect our region, there are some areas in Southwest Virginia that are experiencing power outages Wednesday. [Snow, ice to cause slippery roads, scattered power outages Wednesday]As of 4:28, more than 5,000 customers were without power. According to Appalachian Power, as of 5:58 p.m. here are the top five localities by outage number. County/City Customer Outages Henry County 1,732 Albemarle County 354 Patrick County 288 Grayson County 178 Floyd County 129The outages started at 12:05 p.m.

ROANOKE, Va. – It was all hands on deck Tuesday as VDOT and Appalachian Power crews prepared for a winter storm to hit Virginia. VDOT had crews out prepping the roads for snow and ice by brining the major interstates and roads. Bond said workers will be on standby to plow any snow and treat icy roads. Appalachian Power is pulling in extra crews from Tennessee and West Virginia in anticipation of the storm. And even, you know, when the roads are slick, cars are sliding into poles and breaking poles,” said Boksa.

You won’t see your rate increase for the next few years. On Tuesday, the State Corporation Commission denied Appalachian Power’s request to increase rates by about $10 a month for a typical residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. The company’s authorized rate of return on equity during the three-year review period was 9.42 percent. The Commission also set a new authorized rate of return on equity of 9.2 percent. The Commission also denied a request to increase the residential basic service charge from $7.96 to $14, as well as the implementation of a residential rate design that would have charged higher rates during summer months and lower rates during the winter.