News
AEP Ohio Works To Restore Power To Tens Of Thousands
By: Atish Baidya, Megan Moseley
Posted on:
UPDATE 1:55 p.m. AEP Ohio says it has restored power to approximately 20,000 customers left without electricity after severe storms moved through the state Wednesday.
According to an update posted on the company’s website at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, AEP says restoration work is expected to continue through Sunday. Some 62,000 customers are still without power as of 1:45 p.m., according to AEP’s outage map.
The company says 38 transmission circuits were knocked out of service because of the severe weather. Thirty-two circuits remain out as of the 11:45 a.m. update. AEP says assessment of lines is expected to be completed by 5 p.m. Thursday. The company is bringing in more than 800 extra employees to help with restoration efforts.
“We greatly appreciate our customers’ patience as we work to restore service to their homes and businesses,” Pablo Vegas, President and COO – AEP Ohio said in the update posted on the company’s website. “As additional resources are brought into these areas, it is our hope that restoration work will continue as quickly and as safely as possible.”
AEP estimates it will have 90 percent restoration in the Athens area by noon Friday. Additional estimates for various areas of the state include:
Athens Area:
Lancaster – midnight Saturday
Marietta – midnight Saturday
Wellston – 8 p.m. Friday
Columbus Area:
Communities in the southwest area of Columbus – 8 p.m. today
Communities in the southeast area of Columbus – noon Friday
Delaware – 8 p.m. today
Columbus and communities north of Interstate 70 – 100 percent restored by 11 p.m. today
Newark Area:
Cambridge – noon Friday
Crooksville – 11 p.m. Saturday
McConnelsville – noon Saturday
Mt. Vernon – noon Saturday
Zanesville – 8 p.m. today
Newark – noon Saturday
Ohio Valley Area:
Belmont – midnight Friday
Steubenville/Wheeling – midnight Saturday
For up to date power outage numbers and information from AEP Ohio, click here.
UPDATE 10:00 a.m. AEP Ohio says it could be several days before power is fully restored to tens of thousands of Ohioans across the state.
A line of severe storms, spanning much of the the state Wednesday evening, with wind gusts of more than 70 miles per hour in some areas, snapped power poles and downed power lines.
According to AEP Ohio's outages map, the following counties are experiencing power outages:
Athens County: 206
Belmont County: 912
Carroll: 1,857
Coshocton: 1,383
Fairfield: 2,106
Franklin County: 11, 720
Harrison County: 1,535
Hocking County: 1,596
Jackson County: 483
Licking County: 1,229
Meigs County: 382
Morgan County: 3,447
Muskingum County: 2,033
Perry County: 4,375
Tuscarawas County: 14,336
Washington County: 1,466
Jefferson: 7,180
Wayne County, WV: 488
Ohio County, WV: 2,727
Putnam, WV: 394
Roane, WV: 278
Lincoln, WV: 467
AEP reports more than 80,000 Ohioans are without power.
For updated information on AEP's repair efforts click here.
Inclement weather has caused tens of thousands of Ohioans and West Virginians to be without power.
According to AEP Ohio Outages Map, the following counties are experiencing power outages:
Athens County: 206
Belmont County: 905
Carroll: 1,749
Coshocton: 1,370
Fairfield: 2,440
Franklin County: 11, 692
Harrison County: 1,444
Hocking County: 1,563
Jackson County: 483
Licking County: 1,843
Meigs County: 381
Morgan County: 3,567
Muskingum County: 1,669
Perry County: 4,345
Tuscarawas County: 14,294
Washington County: 1,455
Wayne County: 1,794
Wood County: 1,040
Marshall County, WV: 145
Ohio County, WV: 2,655
AEP reports that a total of 83,379 Ohioans are without power.
For a full report click here.