GAHANNA, Ohio, Oct. 23, 2014 – AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), plans to invest $29 million to upgrade its electric transmission infrastructure in eastern Ohio.

The Barnesville Area Improvement Project involves rebuilding and upgrading approximately 32 miles of existing power lines. The project traverses Marion and Beaver townships in Noble County, Millwood Township in Guernsey County, and Warren, Goshen and Smith townships in Belmont County. The last major reinforcement in this area was done more than 60 years ago.

The existing 69-kilovolt (kV) facilities were built in the 1940s. These will be replaced with 138-kV lines and structures that are somewhat taller and of heavier construction. This will allow the lines to carry more current. Routing and construction details will be determined after additional field work is done. The company anticipates completion of this project in 2019.

The Barnesville Area Improvement Project will help ensure the continued reliability of the transmission system, which is vital not only to AEP Ohio’s current customers but also to support the development of the area’s economy.

“This investment demonstrates the continued long-term commitment AEP Ohio and AEP have to eastern Ohio,” said Selwyn Dias, AEP Ohio vice president of distribution operations. “Upgrading our transmission system is essential to ensure that we will continue to provide reliable power to households, businesses and industries in our area – not just tomorrow but far into the future.”

As part of being a good neighbor, AEP Ohio will engage residents affected by the project to explain the need, review options and gather feedback. The company plans to talk with property owners starting as soon as next month. The company will also host a few public information open houses next year.

AEP Ohio is doing the Barnesville Area Improvement Project in conjunction with AEP Ohio Transmission Company, a transmission-only company that finances, develops, constructs, owns and operates transmissions assets in the AEP Ohio service territory.

AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP Subsidiary Ohio Power Company in Ohio.  AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.com.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a 40,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east and north Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. News releases and other information about AEP can be found at AEP.com.