GridModernization&Decarbonization

Progress To-Date:

• Greenhouse Gas Reductions/Savings: 363,104 MTCO2
• Renewable Energy Capacity Installed: 6.82 MW
• AEP Smart Meters Installed: 505,978

In a joint effort with AEP and the City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities, we will deploy utility scale renewables, use energy more efficiently and build a smarter electric grid. These efforts will measurably decrease greenhouse gas emissions and scale a smart, future-ready infrastructure in our region.

Our utility partners are committed to bringing more renewable energy online through solar, wind and hydro generation deployments, as well as the purchase of renewable energy for regional use. Pending regulatory approval, these efforts will together deploy up to 900 MW of utility scale wind and solar in the state of Ohio by 2030, introduce 5 MW of hydro power in the Columbus region, and procure a minimum of 1.2 million MWh of renewable energy in the City of Columbus between 2017 and 2022.

Project examples include the Columbus Division of Power’s initiatives to rehabilitate the city’s 5 MW hydroelectric plant located in the O’Shaughnessy Dam. When this plant is returned to full operation, it is anticipated to generate 10,000 MWh of clean power per year. AEP is also seeking to develop a number of utility-scale wind and solar projects, contingent on regulatory approval.

The Columbus Division of Power purchases on average 885,000 MWh of power each year to serve approximately 14,000 customers and the street light system throughout the city. The division is committed to raising its green energy portfolio from 5.7% of power sold in 2016 to 28.4% by 2020, and to 50% by 2023.

In addition to producing energy from more sustainable sources, Smart Columbus partners are working to help residents, municipalities and businesses consume less energy. 

AEP Ohio offers multiple energy efficiency programs to commercial and residential customers such as Community Energy Savers. Through its Smart Grid initiative, AEP Ohio is harnessing tools and technologies that will make our power grid smarter and more efficient for customers throughout Ohio. Smart Meters will help AEP Ohio customers monitor and control their own energy use, saving resources and money. Smart meters will also help AEP Ohio identify and respond to outages more quickly and better monitor and control the distribution system.