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 approximately 2-5* miles of 138-kilovolt (kV) power line.
  • Upgrading approximately 4-6* miles of 69-kV power line to 138-kV power line.
  • Retiring approximately 15 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 study segments to build a power line and rebuild existing power lines. Study segments are multiple alternatives presented to determine a line route. Company representatives do not build all study segments, rather, they select one route to build based on public feedback and feasibility.

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

Project Updates

Fall 2024: AEP Ohio representatives invite the community to attend an in-person open house from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, at Christ Community Wesleyan Church Gymnasium located at 6275 Kenney Memorial Lane in Albany to view detailed maps, ask questions and share your thoughts about the proposed study segments with project representatives. There is no formal presentation, so you can arrive at any time during the event.

You may visit the virtual open house using the link to the right to access information, view the interactive map and submit comments.

In order to construct the project, AEP Ohio must obtain the approval of the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB). Company officials plan to host a second open house in early 2025. Following a public input period, the AEP Ohio project team plans to prepare and submit an application to the OPSB that include information on a preferred route corridor for this project. Our team plans to use your input and additional field work to determine the preferred route corridor. The company plans to file the improvements as the Elliott-Lee 138 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project, Case No. 24-0978-EL-BTX in spring 2025.

The OPSB is legally obligated to review the application and, if certain legal criteria are met, it may approve the project. OPSB approval is obtained through the issuance of a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need. For more information on the OPSB, its composition and the process it will follow in reviewing the application for the project, please visit www.opsb.ohio.gov. You can also contact OPSB staff via e-mail at contactopsb@puco.ohio.gov, by phone at 866-270-6722 or mailing correspondence to 180 East Broad Street 11th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215.

A separate public hearing on the project will be scheduled in the future. You may request notice of the public hearing using any of the communication methods mentioned earlier in this letter. You can file petitions to intervene in the OPSB process to the siting board up to 30 days following the public notice announcing the public hearing.

Project Releases

Timeline

Project Timeline

Structures

Structure

The project involves the use of single steel poles.

Pole Height Range: 80-100 feet
Right-of-Way Width: 100 feet

*Exact structure types, height and right-of-way requirements may vary

Resources

Property Easements Virtual Open House Project Fact Sheet Project Map Access Roads Field Activities

AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers.

www.AEPOhio.com

AEP Ohio Outreach

614-933-2998
AEPOhio_Outreach@aep.com

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