As a late June heat wave pushed temperatures toward the top of the thermometer yesterday evening, thousands of people on the southeast side of Columbus suddenly found themselves sweating it out in the dark. Roughly 4,259 AEP Ohio customers lost power, cutting electricity to homes and businesses just when air conditioning was needed most. Crews were sent to the area to check the system, but officials had not yet identified a cause or given a firm estimate for when the lights would come back on.
What AEP Says
According to CW Columbus, AEP Ohio confirmed that about 4,259 customers on the southeast side were affected and said crews were actively assessing the grid. The company told the station it had not pinned down a definitive cause and, because the assessment was still underway, it had not provided an estimated time of restoration.
Customers can track the status of the outage and any updates using the online outage map operated by AEP Ohio.
Where To Find Cool Air and Help
The City of Columbus maintains a power outage resource page that lists contact numbers and available cooling centers for residents who lose air conditioning. People can call 311 or the Division of Power after-hours number to report downed wires or other emergencies, according to the city’s outage information.
For staying safe in this kind of heat, the CDC advises drinking plenty of water, checking in on older adults and people with chronic health conditions, and spending time in air-conditioned public spaces whenever possible.
Grid Strain and Planned Upgrades
Extreme heat can push the electrical grid right to the edge. A review by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio of the June 2022 outages found that storm damage combined with near-record temperatures led to forced load-shedding across AEP territory. In response to reliability concerns, AEP has proposed a Southeast Columbus area improvements project that includes new transmission lines and substation expansion, according to the company’s project fact sheet. The goal is to harden the system and speed up recovery when outages hit.
What Residents Should Do Now
Residents should report outages to AEP through its outage map or customer service line and treat all downed lines as dangerous. If you see wires on the ground, contact the City of Columbus after-hours emergency number.
If your home does not have air conditioning, head to a nearby cooling center and follow CDC heat safety guidance: avoid strenuous activity, drink water regularly, and check on neighbors and relatives who may be more vulnerable to heat-related illness.
This story will be updated as AEP or city officials release restoration times or any additional information.
