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 Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, American Electric Power (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 approach to energy efficiency covers the entire power generation and delivery spectrum. Investments that AEP has made in its coal-fueled power plants has made them more efficient than the national average. Between 2001 and 2007, these improvements helped the company avoid burning 16.2 million tons of coal and preventing the release of 39 million tons of carbon dioxide. The company also is building the first ultra-supercritical pulverized coal plant in the nation which will operate at higher pressures and temperatures to reduce fuel usages and cut emissions.
AEP advocates building extra-high-voltage transmission to enhance reliability, support development of renewable energy and increase the efficiency of the transmission grid. AEP’s six-bundled, 765-kilovolt transmission line design cuts transmission line losses to less than one percent from levels as high as 10 percent on lower voltage designs. A U.S. 765-kilovolt transmission overlay could reduce peak load losses by more than 10 gigawatts and carbon dioxide emissions by some 15 million metric tons annually.
AEP is investing in programs to reduce electricity consumption and to give its customers real-time information about how they are using electricity. AEP has set goals to reduce customer demand by 1,000 megawatts (MW) and energy consumption by 2.25 million megawatt hours (MWh), both by 2012. The company has set a goal of installing 5 million smart meters throughout its service territory by 2015, subject to regulatory approval, and has already installed 10,000 meters in Indiana. Additionally, AEP has focused on cutting energy use within its own facilities and reduced internal consumption by 4.2 percent in 2008.
AEP's utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, 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).
For more information please visit www.aep.com
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