LISBON AEP Ohio customers, including those in southern Columbiana County, could experience fewer and shorter power outages in the coming years thanks to a new project authorized this week by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The seven-year initiative will equip electrical distribution circuits with advanced automation technology designed to rapidly detect outages and reroute power.

The approved settlement agreement mandates AEP Ohio to update at least 300 circuits.

The technology will allow the grid to automatically identify where an outage has occurred and divert electricity to minimize the number of customers affected. This means that when a disruption happens, the system can quickly isolate the problem area and restore power to unaffected parts of the circuit, reducing the overall impact of outages.

Communities in southern Columbiana County, such as Summitville, Salineville, West Point, Highlandtown, Glenmoor, Calcutta, LaCroft, East Liverpool, Wellsville, and surrounding areas are among those served by AEP Ohio that stand to benefit directly from these enhancements.

The total cost to customers is capped at $350 million over seven years, translating to an average monthly bill increase of $0.22 per customer each year, according to the PUCO. The commission estimates that customers will see $3.50 in benefits for every $1 spent on the project.