GAHANNA, Ohio, Nov. 28, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- AEP Ohio, a
unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), has filed a proposal
with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to extend its current Electric
Security Plan (ESP), with modifications, through May 2024. The ESP would otherwise expire in
May 2018.
The proposal would continue AEP Ohio's investments to improve
customer service and reliability including proactive replacement of
aging equipment and aggressive tree trimming and vegetation
management programs to reduce outages. AEP Ohio also will invest in
a new communications system to speed dispatching of crews and
restoration of service when outages occur and security enhancements
to better protect distribution substations from vandalism and
physical attacks.
The plan also will add new, smart technologies to AEP Ohio's
energy distribution network including microgrids to supply
uninterrupted power to critical public safety infrastructure,
electric vehicle charging stations and smart street lighting
systems to support the Smart Columbus effort in Franklin and 10 surrounding counties.
"AEP Ohio is focusing on making investments that enhance the
reliability and quality of service that we provide to our
customers. This proposal will allow us to continue programs that
have improved the reliability of our service in recent years and
introduce new, smarter energy technologies on our system that help
the system operate more efficiently and effectively," said
Julie Sloat, AEP Ohio president and
chief operating officer. "It also gives us a way to invest in
renewable generation that will bring clean energy, jobs and support
economic development in Ohio."
The modified ESP includes a mechanism to support recovery of
future renewable generation investments made to benefit AEP Ohio
customers as well as costs associated with AEP Ohio's 423 megawatt
contractual share of Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC)
generation. AEP Ohio has committed to developing 900 megawatts of
new renewable generation in the state, including 500 megawatts of
wind generation and 400 megawatts of solar generation, contingent
on PUCO approval.
AEP Ohio is a major partner with the City of Columbus and the Smart Columbus
initiative to provide safety improvements, enhance mobility,
incentivize reinvestment in underserved communities, reduce energy
usage and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Through this plan, AEP
Ohio intends to install 250 electric vehicle charging stations; put
in place 8 to 10 microgrids to provide independent power supply for
critical infrastructure, including police and fire stations,
medical facilities and other critical facilities serving public
safety needs; and install smart street lighting systems that are
capable of detecting malfunctions and also dimming when appropriate
to save energy and increase safety and security. These technologies
initially will be implemented as part of the Smart Columbus effort
in Franklin and 10 surrounding
counties, and then extended to other parts of the AEP Ohio service
territory.
AEP Ohio anticipates a decision on this filing from the PUCO in
April 2017. If approved, the extended
Electric Security plan would increase customer bills $1.58 per month for the average residential
customer using 1,000 kilowatthours each month and receiving their
generation from AEP Ohio through the auction process. Overall
monthly electric bills for most AEP Ohio residential customers are
expected to decrease during the eight year period of the plan due
to reductions in other charges.
AEP Ohio delivers electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of
AEP's subsidiary Ohio Power Co. in Ohio. AEP Ohio is based in
Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of
American Electric Power. News and information about AEP Ohio
can be found at AEPOhio.com.
American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities
in the United States, delivering
electricity to nearly 5.4 million customers through 223,000 miles
of distribution lines in 11 states. AEP owns the nation's largest
electricity transmission system, a more than 40,000-mile network
that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission
lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP also
ranks among the nation's largest generators of electricity, owning
approximately 31,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S.
AEP's utility units operate as 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's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.
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SOURCE American Electric Power