Campbell Co., VA - You may have opened your electric bill recently and gotten a case of sticker shock. Appalachian Power customers say their bills have almost doubled in recent weeks. We spoke with one angry customer. At first, Crystal Queen thought her bill was a mistake.

But then she spoke with others in the neighborhood and at work whose bills had also jumped. Appalachian says there are legitimate reasons for the increase.

Crystal Queen, AEP Customer - "It's just too much."

Crystal Queen couldn't believe her eyes.

Queen - "It was almost double from one month to the next, almost double."

She says her bill jumped from $150 to about $250.

Queen - "I have had customers complaining about it. I have had customers saying, you know, my bill doubled."

Appalachian Power says fuel and environmental costs have led to rate increases.

John Shepelwich, Appalachian Power - "We are trying to recover costs that are in some cases years old."

But John Shepelwich says rate increases alone are not to blame, because people generally use more power this time of year.

Queen - "I think it's just greed."

Queen says especially when she's tried her best to keep the thermostat low.

Queen - "I knew with it being winter they would go up some, but not from one month to the next that much."

But AEP says it often does. Even if you keep the thermostat down, your heat works harder when it's colder.

Shepelwich - "What's happened is that we have had a very mild October and early November. It got very cold and consumption in households went up."

Whatever the reason, it's getting harder for many people to make their payment.

Queen - "How are these people going to afford this? It's too much."

Appalachian Power rates are about 30 percent higher now compared to last year. They have online advice to help you lower your electric bill. Just click here.

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