AEP Ohio Grid Technology to Improve Electric Service Reliability Approved by PUCO

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 across 61 counties. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.

At American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP), based in Columbus, Ohio, we understand that our customers and communities depend on safe, reliable and affordable power. Our nearly 17,000 employees operate and maintain more than 40,000 miles of transmission lines, the nation's largest electric transmission system, and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power 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, including nearly 6,000 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP is investing $43 billion over the next five years to make the electric grid cleaner and more reliable. We are on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and have a goal to achieve net zero by 2045. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement and inclusion. 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, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com.