PUCO approves new reliability standards for AEP Ohio

COLUMBUS, OHIO (July 10, 2024) — The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) Wednesday approved an unopposed settlement agreement requiring AEP Ohio to adopt stronger reliability standards.

On March 27, 2024, a settlement agreement was signed by AEP Ohio, PUCO staff, Ohio Consumers’ Counsel (OCC), Ohio Manufacturers’ Association Energy Group (OMAEG), Ohio Poverty Law Center and Pro Seniors, Inc.

“The new standards we approve today will improve service reliability and ensure that the impact and duration of electric outages for AEP’s customers are minimized,” said PUCO Chair Jenifer French.

The settlement makes changes to AEP’s System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI), which represents the average number of interruptions per customer, and Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI), which represents the average interruption duration in minutes.

SAIFI CAIDI Previous standard 1.18 148.00 New standard 1.13 146.00

The new reliability standards will take effect in January 2025. Under the terms of the settlement, AEP Ohio is required to file a new reliability standards case no later than June 1, 2029.

A copy of today’s Commission opinion and order is available on the PUCO website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov by clicking on the link to Documents and Rules, then Docketing Information System (DIS), and searching case 20-1111-EL-ESS.