GAHANNA, Ohio, April 2, 2013 – AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), will conduct helicopter aerial inspections of its high-voltage transmission lines in parts of Ohio over the next few weeks as part of its ongoing program to maintain the reliability of its electric transmission system.

The flights will inspect transmission lines in and around Allen, Auglaize, Crawford, Defiance, Hardin, Hancock, Henry, Huron, Marion, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Wood, Van Wert and Wyandot counties. The flights are expected to take place between April 5 and April 18. Flights will be completed between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Weather delays could alter flight schedules by a day or two in each area.

AEP will use a Bell Jet Ranger helicopter (burgundy/white with silver stripes). Tail number is N54DE. The helicopter will fly approximately 50-100 feet above the lines at a speed of 40 to 45 miles per hour and will cover approximately 350 miles each day. During inspections, the helicopter may circle a structure or area several times to check the condition of electrical equipment.

Customers with questions or concerns about aerial inspections should contact AEP Ohio’s customer solutions center at 1-800-672-2231.
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 AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP subsidiaries Ohio Power Company in Ohio and Wheeling Power Company in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. 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 nearly 39,000-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.