AEP Ohio representatives plan to upgrade the electric transmission grid in Franklin County.
The project involves rebuilding and rerouting sections of an existing 138-kilovolt (kV) 14-mile transmission line located between the Beatty Road Substation off Beatty Road in Grove City and the Canal Street Substation near I-71 in downtown Columbus.
The upgrades enhance electric reliability by replacing aging infrastructure from the 1960s. Modernizing equipment reduces the need for frequent maintenance and minimizes the likelihood of future service disruptions and outages.
This project requires Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) approval. Company representatives plan to file the improvements as the Beatty Road – Canal Street 138kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project, Case No. 26-0073-EL-BTX this summer.
Spring 2026: AEP Ohio representatives invite community members to learn more about the project and share feedback. Please join us for an in-person open house from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. on Monday, March 30 at The Grove Lodge, Grove Metro Park, located at 5172 Jackson Pike in Grove City. Visitors can view detailed maps, meet with project representatives and ask questions. There's no formal presentation, so you can come and go at any time.
In order to construct the project, company representatives must obtain the approval of the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB). Following the public input process, the AEP Ohio project team plans to prepare and submit an application to the OPSB. The application includes information on the proposed route for this project. The company plans to file the improvements as the Beatty Road – Canal Street 138kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project, Case No. 26-0073-EL-BTX this summer. AEP Ohio project team members plan to host another open house before submitting the application with the OPSB this summer.
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 opsb.ohio.gov. You can also contact OPSB staff via e-mail at ContactOPSB@puco.ohio.gov, by phone at 866-270-6772 or mailing correspondence to 180 East Broad Street, 11th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
The OPSB will schedule a separate public hearing on the project 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.
The project involves the use of single steel poles.
Pole Height: 80 - 100 feet*
Right-of-Way Width: 50 - 100 feet*
*Exact structure types, height and right-of-way requirements may vary
AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers.
Project Outreach Specialist with WSP representing AEP Ohio
833-689-3375
Outreach@AEPOhioTransmission.com
