Power company American Electric Power says its second-quarter earnings rose as higher rates in several states coupled with cost controls offset lower sales to industrial customers.

Rappahannock Electric Cooperative will grow by nearly 50 percent under a $350 million plan to serve half of Potomac Edison’s Virginia customers. Fredericksburg-based Rappahannock Electric will gain about 50,000 subscribers if the State Corporation Commission approves the transfer of service. “We’d like to start serving these Potomac Edison customers by Jan. 1,“ said Rappahannock spokeswoman Rhonda F. Curtis, “but there’s a lot of work to be done.“

Rather than get upset about his $350 electric bill, John Almany decided to pay it in pennies.