Athens AreaImprovements Project

AEP Ohio representatives plan to upgrade the electric transmission network serving customers in Athens County.

The Athens Area Improvements Project involves:

• Building 4-6* miles of 138-kilovolt power line.
• Rebuilding 5-8* miles of power line.
• Retiring 6-12* miles of transmission facilities.
• Upgrading Lee Substation located off Virginia Street in Albany and Elliott Substation located off Blackburn Road in Athens.

*Mileage depends on proposed final line route determination.

Installing an additional power line in the area enhances area reliability so that if one line experiences an outage, the other line can continue to serve customers. This operational flexibility reduces the number and duration of outages to area customers. Without these enhancements, the area's power demand could exceed the line's operational capacity and cause larger, sustained community power outages. Upgrading and retiring deteriorating equipment reduces the need for frequent power line maintenance.

Company representatives plan to evaluate route options to build a power line and rebuild existing power lines. Route options are multiple alternatives presented to determine a line route. Company representatives do not build all route options, rather, they select one route to build based on public feedback and feasibility.

This project requires Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) approval.

Summer 2023: Company representatives are evaluating feedback from the community and plan to complete field surveys between summer 2023 and spring 2024.

Spring 2023: Please join us from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 10, at the Christ Community Wesleyan Church Worship Center located at 6275 Kenney Memorial Lane in Albany. There is no formal presentation, so you can arrive at any time during the event. You can view detailed maps and talk with team members about the proposed route options.

Please share your input by Friday, May 19.