Ohio electric bills are reaching record highs, but AEP is already pointing policymakers toward its preferred solution. In explaining the increases, the utility emphasized that Ohio law prevents it from owning power plants and said it is left waiting for the competitive market to respond.

“AEP’s answer to record-high electric bills is to let AEP put more costs on electric bills,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of advocacy and energy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. “Re-regulation would guarantee the utility a return while forcing captive customers to absorb the risk. That is a great deal for AEP. It is a terrible deal for everyone paying the bill.”

Record-high bills should bring greater scrutiny of utility proposals, not become the sales pitch for putting customers back on the hook for utility-owned generation. 8/3/2026