ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 13, 1996 TAG: 9603140027
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B-6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS
American Electric Power Co., whose previous advertising has been about as funny as Marine recruiting posters, has turned to lighthearted television commercials to compete with other power suppliers.
In one television advertisement, prepared for Columbus, Ohio-based AEP, a pair of Astronauts encounter a problem in space and AEP, "America's Energy Partner," offers backup power to solve the problem.
Other TV commercials feature a sea captain in the midst of a mutiny and a swami sitting atop a mountain seeking a "higher power."
The commercials will be launched this week in AEP's service territory in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan.
It's important that AEP's commercial and industrial customers know the company offers services besides delivering electric power, said David Crabtree, AEP's vice president of marketing. Such services include energy audits, financing for installation of energy-efficient equipment and advice on leading-edge technologies.
"Our advertising must be more memorable as AEP enters an increasingly more competitive energy marketplace," Crabtree said. "We are really excited about the commercials, because they are such a departure for AEP and utility companies overall."
AEP provides electric power service to much of Western Virginia, where the company operated until January under the name of one of its subsidiaries, Appalachian Power Co.
LENGTH: Short : 35 linesby CNB