Exhibit 26(a)


                    APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY
                                

               NOTICE OF INVITATION FOR PROPOSALS
            FOR THE PURCHASE OF FIRST MORTGAGE BONDS


     Appalachian Power Company is inviting proposals for the purchase
from it of up to $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its First
Mortgage Bonds (Bonds).  The Bonds may be issued and sold by the
Company in one or more series.  Proposals are to be submitted to the
Company in accordance with such procedures and at such time or times
on such day or days as shall be designated by the Company by notice
to prospective bidders in writing or by telephone, confirmed in
writing, as provided in the Invitation for Proposals for the Purchase
of First Mortgage Bonds (the Invitation for Proposals).  Such notice
or notices will also designate the principal amount of Bonds for
which proposals are to be submitted and the term of the Bonds, which
shall be not more than 40 years.  Copies of a prospectus relating
to the Bonds and of the Invitation for Proposals for the purchase
of the Bonds may be obtained at the office of American Electric Power
Service Corporation, 1270 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 507, New
York, New York.  Proposals will be considered only from persons who
have received copies of such prospectus and only if made in
accordance with and subject to such Invitation for Proposals and any
notice given by the Company pursuant thereto.  Prior to the
acceptance of any bid, the bidder will be furnished a copy of a
prospectus which meets the requirements of Section 10(a) of the
Securities Act of 1933 at that time.

                              APPALACHIAN POWER COMPANY

                              By  A. A. PENA
                                  Treasurer


Dated:  March 12, 1996