AEP Ohio Seeks Rate Increase, Potentially Raising Bills by $3.95

COLUMBUS, Ohio — AEP Ohio announced Friday that it has filed a request with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to adjust its electric distribution base rates.

If approved, the proposed change would raise base rates by about 2.14%, or $3.95 per month, for the average residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) per month.

The exact impact on customer bills will depend on the outcome of the PUCO review. The base rate covers the cost of delivering electricity, including the maintenance of poles, wires, substations, and other infrastructure.

According to AEP Ohio, the additional funding is intended to replace aging equipment, enhance system resilience against outages, and address increased demand due to population growth and severe weather.

AEP also acknowledged customer concerns regarding affordability, especially as inflation impacts household budgets. The company mentioned it has several assistance options available, including payment arrangements, usage management tools, and information on government aid programs.

The PUCO will evaluate AEP’s request for a rate increase and will gather input from various customer groups. The review process for such cases typically extends beyond a year from the filing date.