GAHANNA, Ohio, Aug. 23, 2013 – Electrical system work by AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), and AEP Ohio Transmission Company will affect Canton motorists traveling along State Route 153 Aug. 26 through Sept. 9.

           AEP is installing approximately 10 miles of new line for a second circuit on the vacant side of its existing Wagenhals-West Canton 138-kilovolt transmission tower line. During this work, eight existing lattice towers also will be replaced with single pole structures.

           To allow crews to safely perform this work, State Route 153 will be closed for 15-minute intervals when the new wire is pulled across the highway. This work will take place between Millvale and Victory avenues. AEP Ohio is working with the city of Canton, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Highway Patrol and Stark County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the work can be completed with as little inconvenience to motorists as possible.

           WHAT:           State Route 153 will be closed in 15 minute intervals during daylight hours

           WHEN:           Aug. 26 through Sept. 9

           WHY:             To allow crews to safely pull new wire across the Route 153.

More information about the Wagenhals-West Canton transmission line project is available online at aepohio.com/LON.

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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 Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

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