After a week of storm warnings, a powerful and unusually severe windstorm moved across Ohio on Friday, March 13, 2026, causing widespread damage and leaving hundreds of thousands of our customers without power. This was the most significant wind event our system has experienced in more than a decade. The last time wind caused this …

Most people start thinking about a storm when the wind picks up or the sky turns dark. For AEP Ohio Emergency Preparedness Manager Dave Gray, storm prep starts long before that. Storms can be unpredictable — and preparation can make a big difference. That’s why the work to keep customers’ lights on begins days before …

A new year brings a new tool to improve reliability. “This year, we’re deploying an innovative fixed-wing drone with a 12-foot wingspan — the largest in our fleet — to inspect vegetation along the power lines that bring electricity to homes and businesses,” AEP Ohio Project Manager Principal Jake Reed said. “What sets this drone …

An AEP Ohio storeroom supervisor spends his free time diving with sharks, fish and other aquatic animals before a crowd of wide-eyed kids at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. At first, all you can see is the cloud. It billows up from the reef like an underwater storm — silver and electric blue, flashing scales, …

Fern, the first winter storm of 2026, brought a lot of snowfall and bitter cold across Ohio with some areas receiving up to 14 inches of snow. While AEP Ohio customers largely maintained service throughout the storm, the impact was far more severe in neighboring states, including West Virginia. AEP Ohio’s sister company, Appalachian Power …

Keeping your home comfortable during chilly winter months can lead to an increase in energy usage and your monthly electric bill. AEP Ohio’s Neighbor to Neighbor program may be able to offer some financial relief this season. Administered by Dollar Energy Fund, the Neighbor to Neighbor program supports customers in need with an assistance grant …