AEP eyeing power-line project in Dublin

American Electric Power plans to soon file an application to build a heavy-duty power line in the Dublin area, and the company is hosting an open house next week to present the plan to the residents who may be affected.

Columbus-based AEP says it plans to spend $12 million on the line, which would run about three miles and help to improve the flow of electricity in that part of the region.

The open house will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. July 11 at Fellowship Baptist Church, 6720 Shier Rings Road in Dublin.

AEP wants to build a 138-kilovolt line. This is a transmission line, which is like an interstate highway for electricity, as opposed to neighborhood-based power lines, which are more like local roads.

The project would cover parts of the west side of Dublin, and parts of Washington and Perry townships. It also would include upgrades of two existing substations.

If approved by regulators, AEP would like to begin construction in the fall of 2018 and be finished by the spring of 2019.

The application would need to be approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board. AEP says it will suggest two possible routes, one of which is the preferred route, and the other of which is an alternative that also will be studied.

Residents can look at the routes and file comments in the Power Siting Board docket, once the case has been started.

“Public conversation is important to us. We want to discuss this project and its benefits to the community,” said Renee Shumate, external affairs manager for AEP Ohio, in a statement. “We strive for a transparent outreach and siting process. We care about all of our customers and we carefully balance our need to provide reliable power while minimizing our disruption to landowners and the environment.”