GAHANNA, Ohio, February 3, 2021 – AEP Ohio was presented an Emergency Response Award by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) for helping restore power following several large storms in 2020.
Presented to EEI member companies, Emergency Response Awards recognize recovery and assistance efforts following service disruptions caused by extreme weather or other natural events.
AEP Ohio sent line and contract personnel to partnering electric utilities – including sister companies at AEP – following five hurricanes and a severe ice storm in the south.
Over the course of these assignments in 2020, crews encountered all types of adverse weather including flooding and high winds, extreme heat, varying terrains and dangerous wildlife. Not only were these conditions not ideal, but crews also had to navigate the health and safety challenges posed by COVID-19 as the global pandemic continued.
“It’s been a difficult year for many reasons, including the number of significant weather-related events around the country,” said Raja Sundararajan, AEP Ohio president and chief operating officer. “When disaster strikes and people are in need, it’s in our employees’ DNA to want to get the power back on. We thank them for their commitment and sacrifices, all while doing it safely and following COVID-related protocols.”
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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 nearly 1.5 million customers. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.
American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions to our customers. AEP’s more than 18,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 219,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 32,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including about 5,200 megawatts of renewable generation. AEP’s family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP also owns AEP Energy, AEP Energy Partners, AEP OnSite Partners and AEP Renewables, which provide innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide.