AEP Ohio expects power outage to continue until late Wednesday night for some customers

Dean Narciso, The Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read
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American Electric Power, with mutual aid assistance from out-of-state, reported it had restored power by early Sunday night to some 70% of its more than 125,000 Ohio customers who went dark due to Saturday's high winds. But some customers aren't expected to get back until late Wednesday night.

As of 6 p.m. Sunday more than 35,000 AEP Ohio customers remained without power. In the Columbus and central Ohio service area, there were almost 3,000 still without power.

AEP reported that most power in central Ohio would be restored no later than midnight Sunday, but customers on Columbus' Northeast Side were not expected to get power back until noon on Monday.

South of Columbus and in southern Ohio, estimated power restoration in places like Chillicothe and South Point was by 6 p.m. Monday, and Lucasville and Wellston by 6 p.m. Tuesday.

AEP's estimated power restoration times in its eastern Ohio district restorations are Cambridge by 11:30 a.m. Monday; Coshocton, Mount Vernon and Newark, by 3 p.m. Monday; and Zanesville by 3 p.m. Tuesday.

But customers in AEP's northeast and southern districts may have to wait considerably longer for their electricity to come back on. AEP is estimating power restoration in those areas could take until 11 p.m. Wednesday. Here's the utility's estimates for those areas as of Sunday night:

Southeast Ohio

  • Athens — Wednesday, 11 p.m.

  • Crooksville — Monday, 3 p.m.

  • Lancaster — Wednesday, 11 p.m.

  • Marietta — Wednesday, 11 p.m.

  • McConnelsville — Tuesday, 6 p.m.

  • Pomeroy — Wednesday, 11 p.m. |

Northeast Ohio

  • North and South Canton — Wednesday, 11 p.m.

  • Carrollton — Tuesday, 6 p.m.

  • New Philadelphia — Wednesday, 11 p.m.

  • Steubenville — Wednesday, 11 p.m.

  • Wooster — Tuesday, 6 p.m.

AEP Ohio was continuing to assess and repair damage Sunday night, and plans another status update at 1 p.m. Monday.

The utility reported that 95% or more of its affected customers have had power restored in Delaware, Hillsboro, Seaman and northwest Ohio.

AEP's restoration efforts were extremely hampered Saturday by wind gusts much of the day and into the night that in some places exceeded 60 mph, said Anthony DeBord, an AEP customer service specialist. He noted that bucket trucks are unable to safety maneuver poles and trees until winds subside.

More than 2,000 line workers, tree and other contractors, assessor and support personnel were reported working Sunday to restore power that was knocked out by downed wires and trees falling across lines due to strong winds of more than 60 mph in some places that pummeled the state for much of the day Saturday.

Through a mutual assistance program, line workers and tree crews have come from other states — including Delaware, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee and others — to assist AEP in restoration efforts. Damage was extensive and widespread across the utility's service territory, with the hardest hit areas besides the northeast being New Philadelphia, Mount Vernon and Athens.

dnarciso@dispatch.com

@DeanNarciso

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: AEP Ohio getting out-of-state help to restore power to customers