Bryson Switch - Coolville Transmission Improvements Project

AEP Transmission representatives plan to upgrade the power grid in Meigs and Athens counties.

The Bryson Switch - Coolville Transmission Improvements Project involves:

• Building approximately 12 miles of 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line between Bryson Switch, close to the intersection of U.S. Route 33 and Rocksprings Road in north central Meigs County, and Coolville Substation, located off Old State Road in southeast Athens County.
• Rebuilding about 12 miles of 69-kV transmission line between Coolville Substation and Bashan Substation, at the intersection of Gainer and Racine-Bashan roads in Meigs County.
• Upgrading Coolville Substation.

The upgrades enhance electric reliability for customers in the area by increasing capacity with an additional source of power. Replacing aging infrastructure from the 1960s with modern equipment provides operational flexibility for the system to reroute power and accelerate restoration during outages.

Fall 2026: Company representatives continue to work on the design and engineering of the upgrade to the power grid. As a result, the project timeline has shifted. Construction begins early 2029 and conclude by spring 2030. Contract Land Staff, LLC (CLS) serves as AEP Transmission's right-of-way representative on this project. CLS plans to work closely with property owners during easement acquisition prior to construction.

Summer 2026: Company representatives have determined a final line route after reviewing future land use, environmental impacts and input received from landowners following an in-person open house in February. Directly impacted property owners can expect to hear about next steps from Contract Land Services (CLS), the right-of-way vendor representing AEP Transmission for this project.