GAHANNA, Ohio — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Wednesday approved AEP Ohio’s plan to invest in distribution automation grid technology designed to improve the reliability of electric service for customers across the state.
The technology automatically reroutes power, shortening and sometimes preventing power outages that customers would otherwise experience. AEP Ohio plans to invest $350.7 million in the upgrades, at a cost of about 22 additional cents per month each year for a typical AEP Ohio residential customer.
“New and emerging technology helps improve the reliability of electric service for our customers, and we are embracing it and driving it forward,” said Marc Reitter, AEP Ohio president and chief operating officer. “AEP Ohio is committed to innovation. We filed this request to expand the benefits of this technology to more Ohioans, and we are glad the commission recognizes its value.”
The technology, distribution automation circuit reconfiguration (DACR), uses advanced sensors and controls to detect, isolate and automatically restore power during outages. DACR helps maintain the flow of power to customers by automatically addressing issues on the grid. That means, for customers whose circuits are equipped with DACR technology, power outages can be brief and momentary, rather than prolonged — and sometimes prevented before they begin.
AEP Ohio has already installed the technology on 325 circuits, including more than 100 in Central Ohio.
The PUCO’s approval today will enable AEP Ohio to install the DACR technology on an additional 412 circuits throughout the state. With those additions, nearly half of AEP Ohio’s 1,600 circuits across the state would be equipped with DACR.
“Technology in the utility sector is only getting better, leading to improved reliability and more cost-effective electric service for our customers,” Reitter said. “We will continue to embrace these innovations and drive forward innovations of our own to keep improving service for the people and businesses we serve.”
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About AEP Ohio
AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. AEP Ohio provides electricity to 1.5 million customers. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.
Our team at American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) is committed to improving our customers' lives with reliable, affordable power. We are investing $54 billion from 2025 through 2029 to enhance service for customers and support the growing energy needs of our communities. Our nearly 16,000 employees operate and maintain the nation's largest electric transmission system with 40,000 line miles, along with more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver energy to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with approximately 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity. We are focused on safety and operational excellence, creating value for our stakeholders and bringing opportunity to our service territory through economic development and community engagement. Our family of companies includes AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. AEP is headquartered in Columbus, Ohio. For more information, visit aep.com.