In a Columbus Dispatch column, Rick Platt highlighted the dramatic shift in projected Central Ohio demand, noting that a widely reported 30,000 MW estimate from AEP has since fallen to roughly 5,700 MW.

That kind of swing matters because utilities, regulators and policymakers are making decisions today based on expectations about tomorrow’s demand. When those forecasts miss, manufacturers and other existing customers can be left paying for infrastructure built for load that may never materialize.

“Forecasts have consequences,” said Lindsey Short, managing director of advocacy and energy services for the Ohio Manufacturers’ Association (OMA). “If utilities are going to ask customers to fund billions of dollars in new infrastructure, the projections behind those investments need to be credible, transparent and tested against actual demand.”

OMA members have a direct stake in getting those forecasts right. Inflated projections can translate into higher electricity costs, unnecessary infrastructure spending and more risk shifted onto manufacturers already on the system. 10/5/2026