AES Ohio reaches Smart Grid 2 settlement

September 13, 2024

AES Ohio, a subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), announced a Settlement enabling the deployment of Smart Grid Phase 2, which will continue the customer benefits and grid modernization enabled by Smart Grid Phase 1.

If approved by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the Settlement would allow AES Ohio to move forward with plans to invest $240 million in capital projects over a 4-year period following Smart Grid Phase 1. The Settlement continues investments that will deliver benefits to all customers in grid infrastructure, improved system reliability, performance and communication capabilities.

AES Ohio continues to have the lowest residential rates of Ohio investor-owned utilities. A residential customer on AES Ohio’s Standard Service Offer (SSO) using 1,000 kWh a month would see an initial increase of $1.72 per month, or about 1%.

“We have a commitment to our customers and community to ensure the reliability and resiliency of our grid. In Smart Grid 1, we successfully deployed smart meters and reclosers, equipment to automatically restore power. Our customers are already benefiting from fewer outages and decreased restoration times,” said Tom Raga, AES Ohio President. “The Smart Grid Phase 2 Settlement is the next step to advancing the benefits of smart grid and realizing the tangible improvements bringing value to our customers every day.”

Smart Grid 1 improvements have already reduced Customer Minutes Interrupted (CMI) by 28.5% and reduced the need for estimated meter reads by 96%.

In Smart Grid Phase 2 important customer benefits include:

• Continued expansion of automation of substation and distribution operations
• A new online hosting capacity map tool to support distributed energy resources and economic development
• An enhanced telecommunication network

In the Settlement, AES Ohio also proposes to expand its Disadvantaged Communities Energy Initiative. This initiative currently provides an annual budget of $2.7 million benefiting low-income customers in qualified communities.

To learn more about AES Ohio’s Smart Grid Plan, visit aes-ohio.com/aes-ohio-smart-grid.

A copy of the Settlement is available on the PUCO docket under 24-112-EL-GRD and 24-113-EL-AAM.

About AES Ohio
AES Ohio, a regional energy provider and an AES company. AES Ohio, a regulated electric utility, provides service to more than 539,000 customers in West Central Ohio. During its long history, AES Ohio has served its customers with the lowest distribution and transmission rates in Ohio among investor-owned utilities. Connect with AES Ohio on X, Facebook and LinkedIn. Learn more about how AES Ohio is accelerating the future of energy, visit aes-ohio.com.