Contact AEP Ohio

Residential customer service

1-800-672-2231

Monday to Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. ET

Power outage (24/7)

1-800-672-2231

Or text OUT to 25543 (AEPOH)

Headquarters

1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus, OH 43215

Payment mailing address

AEP Ohio
P.O. Box 24418
Canton, OH 44701-4418

Utility fact sheet

Legal name
Ohio Power Company
Trade name
AEP Ohio
Type
Investor-owned utility
Parent
American Electric Power
Ticker
NASDAQ: AEP
Ohio electric customers
~1.5 million
Retail choice?
Yes (supply only)
Regulator
PUCO + FERC
Grid operator
PJM Interconnection

Quick actions

  • 1

    Start or stop service

    Call 1-800-672-2231 at least 3 business days before move-in. Have the address, move date, and a photo ID or SSN ready.

  • 2

    Manage your account

    Sign in to My Account on aepohio.com or use the AEP mobile app for billing, auto-pay and outage reporting.

  • 3

    Compare your supply

    Check the SSO Price to Compare vs. CRES offers on PUCO's Apples to Apples tool at energychoice.ohio.gov.

Compare Ohio suppliers

About AEP Ohio

AEP Ohio is the Ohio subsidiary of American Electric Power (NASDAQ: AEP), one of the largest electric utility holding companies in the United States. AEP Ohio was historically two regulated utilities: Ohio Power Company (acquired by AEP in 1950) and Columbus Southern Power Company (acquired by AEP in 1980). The PUCO approved the merger of the two companies on December 14, 2011 and they were legally combined into a single Ohio Power Company on December 31, 2014. The Columbus Southern Power name lives on as a tariff and historical billing entity, but the operating utility is Ohio Power.

Today, AEP Ohio is responsible for the poles, wires, substations and meters that deliver electricity to roughly 1.5 million homes and businesses in Ohio. That includes the City of Columbus, most of central and southern Ohio, the Ohio River valley (Marietta, Steubenville, Portsmouth), and a separate pocket in the northwest near Findlay and Lima.

AEP Ohio's delivery rates are set by the PUCO. Its wholesale operations sit inside the PJM Interconnection footprint and are also overseen by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).

How your AEP Ohio bill is built

Every Ohio electric bill splits in two. AEP Ohio is always the delivery company. You choose who handles the supply half.

Supply (shoppable)

  • ·The price of the kWh you actually use.
  • ·Standard Service Offer from AEP Ohio if you do nothing, set by PUCO-approved auctions.
  • ·A CRES supplier certified by the PUCO if you shop on energychoice.ohio.gov.
  • ·Switching never changes the wires, the meter, or who you call for an outage.

Delivery (not shoppable)

  • ·The cost of moving energy through AEP Ohio's wires.
  • ·Customer charge, a flat monthly fee paid even at zero usage.
  • ·Distribution + transmission per-kWh charges, including the BTCR rider.
  • ·Riders for grid modernization, energy efficiency, and storm restoration.

Source: AEP Ohio tariff filings and PUCO rate orders.

AEP Ohio's current Price to Compare

The Price to Compare (PTC) is the per-kWh rate AEP Ohio charges for default supply through its SSO. Any competitive offer below this number saves you money on the supply line, all else equal.

Current PTC (residential)

9.94¢/kWh

Apr 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026 (PUCO)

Default supply mechanism

SSO

Quarterly competitive auctions

Certified Ohio suppliers

70+

PUCO-licensed CRES providers

A typical AEP Ohio household using 1,000 kWh per month spends roughly $99 per month on supply alone at the default SSO rate, before delivery, customer charges and riders. Effective April 1, 2026, the transmission cost rider (BTCR) adds about $7.90 per month to the same 1,000 kWh bill on the delivery side.

How to pay your AEP Ohio bill

Auto Pay

Free direct debit from your checking or savings account each month.

Online or app

My Account on aepohio.com or the AEP mobile app. Bank payment is free; card payments via BillMatrix carry a small fee.

By mail

Check to AEP Ohio, P.O. Box 24418, Canton, OH 44701-4418.

In person

Cash at AEP Ohio Authorized Payment Centers listed on aepohio.com's payment locator.

AEP Ohio service area

AEP Ohio covers a wide diagonal swath of the state, from the Lake Erie shore in the northwest down through the central capital region and along the Ohio River. Roughly 1.5 million meters sit inside this footprint.

~1.5M

Ohio electric customers

61

Ohio counties served (in part)

1906

Ohio Power Co. founded

2014

Columbus Southern merger

Major cities in AEP Ohio territory

AEP Ohio is the electric distribution utility for most of central, southern and southeastern Ohio, plus a northwest pocket:

· Columbus

· Canton

· Steubenville

· Marietta

· Portsmouth

· Athens

· Lancaster

· Newark

· Zanesville

· Findlay

· Lima

· Wapakoneta

Cleveland (FirstEnergy / Illuminating Company), Cincinnati (Duke Energy), Dayton (AES Ohio) and Toledo (Toledo Edison) are not served by AEP Ohio.

Help paying your AEP Ohio bill

If you are behind on a bill, call AEP Ohio at 1-800-672-2231 before service is at risk. Several Ohio and federal programs can also cover part of your bill.

HEAP

Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Program is the state's branding of federal LIHEAP. The program year runs July 1, 2025 to May 30, 2026, with benefits between $24 and $441 per heating season.

PIPP Plus

Percentage of Income Payment Plan caps your bill at 6% of monthly income (gas-heated home) or 10% (all-electric home). Eligibility is at or below 150% of the federal poverty line.

Winter Crisis Program

One-time crisis grant from November to March if you are facing disconnection, already shut off, or have less than a 10-day fuel supply. Apply through your local Community Action Agency.

Neighbor to Neighbor

AEP Ohio's company-funded emergency aid for customers who fall through the gaps of HEAP and PIPP. Apply through partner agencies listed on aepohio.com.

Other protections: PUCO's winter reconnect order (Oct 14 to Apr 15) lets disconnected residential customers reconnect for $175, and Ohio's Disconnection Moratorium for medically certified customers blocks shutoff while medical equipment is in use.

Frequently asked questions

Is Columbus Southern Power the same as AEP Ohio today?
Yes, in operational terms. Columbus Southern Power was legally folded into Ohio Power Company on December 31, 2014, and both companies now operate under the AEP Ohio brand. The two former rate zones briefly had different tariffs after the merger but have since been unified under PUCO orders.
Can I pick a different supplier in AEP Ohio territory?
Yes. Ohio has had retail electric choice since 1999. AEP Ohio still delivers the power and sends the bill, but you can pick any of the 70+ PUCO-certified CRES suppliers for the generation half. Always compare a fixed-rate offer to the current Price to Compare before signing.
Who do I call for a downed power line?
AEP Ohio's 24/7 outage line at 1-800-672-2231, or text OUT to 25543 (AEPOH). If a wire is on the ground or anyone is hurt, call 911 first, then AEP Ohio.
How often does the SSO Price to Compare change?
AEP Ohio's SSO rate is set through PUCO-approved competitive auctions and resets quarterly. The current rate of 9.94¢/kWh runs from April 1, 2026 to May 31, 2026. Bookmark PUCO's Apples to Apples page to see the live PTC and compare it against CRES offers.
Does AEP Ohio sell natural gas?
No. AEP Ohio is an electricity-only utility. Natural gas in its territory is delivered by other companies such as Columbia Gas of Ohio, Dominion Energy Ohio or smaller municipal gas systems. Gas retail choice in Ohio is handled separately under PUCO's natural-gas Standard Choice Offer.
Where can I find a local AEP Ohio office?
AEP Ohio has largely moved walk-in service to Authorized Payment Centers (CVS, Western Union, Walmart MoneyCenter and similar) rather than corporate offices. Use the locator on aepohio.com to find one near you. The corporate headquarters at 1 Riverside Plaza in Columbus is not staffed for residential customer service.
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