Ohio regulators approve AEP Ohio's gridSMART phase 3

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio approved AEP Ohio Transmission Co. Inc.'s gridSMART phase three project.

The project would see AEP Ohio install smart meters for approximately 475,000 customers and volt/VAP optimization technology on 255 circuits and implement enhancements for the authorized sharing of data with competitive energy suppliers in order to enable new retail rate offerings, including time-of-use rates, PUCO said in a Dec. 1 news release.

AEP Ohio is a subsidiary of American Electric Power Co. Inc.

An Oct. 27 settlement (Case No. 19-1475-EL-RDR) would limit potential charges to customers at approximately $332 million. PUCO said it will also perform annual financial audits and ensure operational savings related to gridSMART upgrades are credited to the overall program costs. For its part, AEP Ohio will provide $500,000 in rebates toward smart thermostats and contribute $250,000 to its Neighbor-to-Neighbor assistance program, the release said.

The settlement was reached between AEP Ohio, PUCO staff, Ohio Consumers' Counsel, Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy, Ohio Energy Group, Ohio Hospital Association, the Kroger Co., Interstate Gas Supply, Smart Thermostat Coalition, Mission:data, Industrial Energy Users-Ohio, Ohio Environmental Council and the Ohio Manufacturers' Association Energy Group.