Latest news with #AEPOhio
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
AEP outage updates: More than 1,400 customers remain without power, outage map shows
About 1,400 central Ohioans remain without power on Friday, May 16 due to an AEP power outage affecting Columbus' Northeast Side, according to an AEP outage map. Two outages beginning at 12:16 p.m. impacted 5,279 AEP customers. As of 4 p.m., the number of reported outages dropped to 1,412, according to the AEP outage map. The outages occurred in neighborhoods on either side of Morse Road east of Hamilton Road, according to the map. AEP Ohio serves Columbus and most of Eastern and Southern Ohio. Customers can view its power outage map here. You can report a power outage online or by calling 800-672-2231. Columbus Division of Power customers can view an outage map here. DOP customers are encouraged to report outages not shown on the map by calling 614-645-7627. FirstEnergy and its affiliates cover parts of Central Ohio to the north and west of Columbus. You can check FirstEnergy's power outage map here. You can also report an outage online here or by phone at 888-544-4877. This story is ongoing and will be updated. Dispatch reporter Shahid Meighan contributed to this story. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: AEP power outage update: Track the Friday outage in Columbus
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio's power grid operator warns of potential power shortages this summer
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — A power grid operator for Ohio and other states said plenty of resources are available to meet typical peak summer electricity demand but warned that there are 'extreme scenarios' in which generation capacity may fall short. PJM, a regional transmission organization that coordinates the movement of electricity across Ohio and 12 other states, said it expects summer usage to peak at about 154,000 megawatts. The company said one megawatt can power about 800 homes. Ohio again ranks among worst states in country in list by U.S. News & World Report The company expects to have enough reserves to meet that demand, but noted it's the first time in PJM's annual assessment that 'generation capacity may fall short of required reserves in an extreme planning scenario that would result in an all-time PJM peak load over 166,000 MW.' The company is concerned about the imbalance of supply and demand due to the lack of building new resources and generator retirements. 'This outlook at a record peak heat scenario reflects our years-long and mounting concerns as we plan for enough resources to maintain grid reliability,' Executive Vice President of Operations, Planning and Security Aftab Khan said in a statement. 'All resources within PJM's footprint should be prepared to respond when called upon.' If the 'extreme scenario' were to happen, PJM would use 'contracted demand response programs' to meet its needs. 'Demand response programs pay customers who have opted in to reduce their electricity during system emergencies,' PJM said. Amendment to eliminate Ohio property taxes moves one step closer to voters The National Weather Service expects the summer months to be hotter than normal along parts of the East Coast. PJM said it has about 179,200 megawatts of generation capacity over the summer, plus another 7,900 megawatts of contracted demand response resources. PJM's long-term load forecast predicts a massive jump in peak demand over the next 15 years. 'This forecast captures the dramatic increases in future energy demand, as evidenced by the last two years when data center development has grown exponentially,' Khan said. AEP Ohio has blamed PJM for customer bill increases that will go into effect in June. PJM does not generate electricity, but coordinates how electricity is transmitted to help meet electricity demand. 'In a recent auction, the entire PJM region saw significant increases in the price of electricity generation capacity compared with previous auctions,' AEP Ohio stated. 'This cost is always passed to customers dollar-for-dollar, with no markup or profit for AEP Ohio.' Amendment to eliminate Ohio property taxes moves one step closer to voters AEP estimates that beginning in June, customers who use 1,000 kWh of electricity per month would see their monthly bills increase by about $27. Ohio lawmakers recently passed House Bill 15 — awaiting Gov. Mike DeWine's signature — which aims to address energy shortages and growing demand. It would also repeal the remaining portions of HB 6 (2019), which landed the state's former speaker of the House in federal prison. The remaining portions subsidize two Ohio Valley Electric Corporation coal plants on the backs of Ohio ratepayers. One of the plants is in Ohio, the other in Indiana. The Ohio Consumers' Counsel estimates that the amount Ohioans have paid since January 2020 is more than $464 million to date. Ohio Republican leaders have been at odds since the scandal unfolded about the remaining portions of the law. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Yahoo
AEP Ohio urges drivers to pay attention to help keep linemen safe
GROVEPORT, Ohio (WCMH) — April is Distracted Driving Awareness month and AEP Ohio is urging drivers to pay attention to keep both themselves and line workers safe. Director of Operations, Matt Bennett, said power outages caused by vehicles are up from the previous year in Central Ohio. In 2023, there were 254; last year, there were 272. 'We have the same dangers as the public, right? Our first and foremost is going to be safety,' Bennett said. Franklin County deputy accused of fleeing officer at speeds over 100 mph At the lineman training facility in Groveport, workers are trained for all different types of outages, including those caused by vehicles. 'We have to treat all wires no matter if they're ours or somebody else's. If they're energized, anything that they're touching can also be energized,' Bennett said. Ohio strengthened its distracted driving law in 2023, making it a primary offense to use or hold a mobile device while driving. However, Bennett said this problem is persisting for them. There were 900 vehicle-related power outages across the state. He blames a lot of that on distracted driving. 'Slow down. That's the biggest thing is we're always in a hurry. The world's moving fast, and pay attention to what you're doing,' he said. Bennett said while they're aiming to bring these numbers down, they also want to keep the public safe when it does happen. AEP Ohio crews gave NBC4 a demonstration on what to do if you are involved in an accident with a utility pole. North Linden drug house with history of criminal activity shut down 'We want you to stay in the vehicle. That's the safest place for you,' said Craig Williams, Line Crew Supervisor at AEP Ohio. He said it's best to wait for emergency responders to help you get out. However, if you feel like you're in danger Williams said there are ways to get out safely. 'Keep people away from the vehicle first and foremost,' he said. The first step from Williams was to step to the very edge of the car and make sure you aren't still attached to the vehicle by something like a seatbelt. From there, you want to jump out of the vehicle with both feet at the same time. The last step is to shuffle your feet away from the vehicle. 'Don't panic. Call 911. 911 operators will be able to talk you through this and help you through this as well,' Bennett said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ohio Senate committee unanimously advances energy overhaul
The Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original story.) The Ohio Senate Energy Committee voted on Tuesday to advance a sweeping proposal meant to spur new power plants. The move sets the stage for a potential vote by the full chamber today, Wednesday. Meanwhile, lawmakers in the House appear to be entering the homestretch on their own version of the bill. Ohio Senate Bill 2 stretches its arms around the nearly every aspect of the energy market — changing how power companies set rates and get approval for new sites, as well as setting rules for 'behind-the-meter' power production and providing property tax exemptions for new plants. In addition, the measure eliminates a controversial rider propping up a pair of aging coal plants, a surcharge that was approved as part of 2019's Ohio House Bill 6. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX With its vast scope SB 2 has been closely watched, and worried over — going through five iterations on its way to passage. With each successive hearing, the bill has gotten a makeover, picking up pro-consumer provisions in one hearing and pro-utility changes the next. Tuesday's hearing was no different. The bill's sponsor, state Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, introduced several changes including a prohibition on power distribution companies like AEP or FirstEnergy from setting up on-site power plants for individual customers, known as behind-the-meter production. The measure also clarifies earlier changes related to a new three-year rate setting scheme. Generally speaking, utilities have been hostile to SB 2 because of its behind-the-meter restrictions and elimination of programs allowing them to bill customers for grid improvements. In return, and at utilities' suggestion, lawmakers allowed companies to set rates on a three-year basis. They also put a 'shot clock' on regulators — rate-setting cases, for instance, have to be done within a year. But AEP Ohio remained dissatisfied. The company's Vice President of External Affairs Frank Strigari was still stuck on provisions barring the company from providing behind-the-meter service and ending the coal plant rider subsidy. The latest version of the bill bars utilities from setting up behind-the-meter facilities unless they're operational prior to the bill's effective date. 'This move restricts the customer choice that I spoke to earlier,' Strigari insisted, 'and is a setback to the ability of the state to compete nationally for economic development projects.' He also argued that lawmakers should revert to the original version of the bill for the coal plant rider, allowing AEP to continue collecting through 2028. Strigari said all they want is a 'reasonable transition' out, and that cutting off cold turkey would result in the company writing off $52 million. 'I would suggest that such a draconian shift will hinder AEP Ohio's ability to invest in grid upgrades needed to fuel the growing economy in Ohio,' he said, before suggesting '(it) will ultimately drive up the cost of capital that's paid for by ratepayers.' Strigari's arguments failed to move lawmakers on the panel. He ad-libbed an appeal to a Donald Trump social media post praising 'beautiful, clean coal' to suggest that continuing the coal subsidy would be consistent with the president's policy objectives. Committee chairman state Sen. Brian Chavez, R-Marietta, noted, 'just to be clear, nothing in this bill prevents using beautiful, clean coal.' State Sen. Jane Timken, R-Canton, pushed back on Strigari's argument that distribution utilities should be allowed in the behind the meter marketplace. 'I'll just use the phrase, that you're all just going to bigfoot everyone else out of the business. How do you solve that problem?' she asked. 'Because I have concerns that this will just be another opportunity for you all to expand your business and push everyone out.' Meanwhile state Sen. Casey Weinstein, D-Hudson, flipped Strigari's characterization of the coal subsidies on its head. 'It's Ohioans who pay half a million a day, half a billion, almost, cumulatively for this,' he said. 'So, you're asking us to continue having Ohioans pay almost $500,000 a day. This isn't an AEP hit. This would be a hit on Ohioans — just to clarify.' In the end lawmakers voted unanimously to advance the proposal, and after the hearing, Chavez said he expects it to go before the full Senate for a vote on Wednesday. In the Ohio House, a similar measure is slated for its sixth hearing Wednesday afternoon, with changes of its own in the works. Despite AEP's opposition, state Sen. Reineke's efforts brought together an impressive coalition. Ohio Consumers' Counsel Maureen Willis gave it the thumbs up as did the Ohio Environmental Council. Big industrial customers are on board as are a string of power companies interested in building new power plants. 'We worked very hard to make something work,' Reineke said after the hearing. 'We've tried to listen to all the parties involved, and I think we have a really good piece of legislation.' Taking a step back, he argued that the most important changes are perhaps the most straightforward — sharp distinctions on who's allowed in the marketplace and property tax breaks. 'The biggest advantage of this bill is that we've drawn a clear line,' he said. 'So, everybody knows where they're at, at this point. So that welcomes, that's kind of an invite, hey, come into our state.' Follow Ohio Capital Journal Reporter Nick Evans on X or on Bluesky. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
