PUCO approves rate settlement between AEP Ohio, 13 others

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) approved a rate settlement case that will increase monthly customer charges by approximately $1.60 while removing a reconnection fee for those disconnected for nonpayment.

“Over the last decade, the men and women of AEP Ohio have done a lot of extraordinary work to improve the reliability of the service we provide,” AEP Ohio President and COO Marc Reitter said. “Working with the Commission staff, the OCC, and many of our largest customers, we have charted a path forward to continue providing safe and electric service. The agreement between the 13 parties recognizes the progress we have made, the work that we still have ahead of us, and holds us accountable for getting the work done.”

Residential customers using an average of 1,000 kWh per month earned a $0.71 bill decrease compared to rates sought in AEP’s original filing in March 2021. Reductions in other rates will offset the changes to the customer charges once the new base rates take effect in two weeks.

Under the new order, AEP Ohio will be able to invest in reliability and resiliency improvements over the next four years. However, AEP Ohio will have to submit a plan to PUCO annually detailing how it will improve reliability and move to maintain safety and overall customer experience. AEP Ohio will have to achieve specific reliability targets to gain access to full program funding.

Other initiatives approved by PUCO include converting AEP Ohio-owned streetlights to LED fixtures, a new charging program to reduce rates for charging electric vehicles in off-hours, as well as a new renewable distributed generation pilot for onsite renewable generation.

This marks the first update to AEP Ohio’s base rates since 2011.