COLUMBUS, Ohio — The storms that swept through Ohio on June 13 caused a lot of damage for about 300,000 residents, with much of the damage being power outages.
AEP Energy wanted to help its personal customers that were affected with a program called the Neighbor to Neighbor Fund.
Marc Reitter, president and chief operating officer of AEP Ohio, spoke at the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio meeting July 13. When asked what was available to people that were affected, he explained the Neighbor to Neighbor Fund.
“We have what is called Neighbor to Neighbor Fund, which had $2.7 million in it,” he said. “We changed the criteria of that fund to make it apply for customers impacted during these events. And so that is still open through the end of the month. And I think the expectation is of the 2.7, approximately we think a million will be utilized.”
Although AEP is working to use the fund to help, Reitter does not believe AEP owes reimbursements to its customers. He said that the storms were “acts of God.”
“As far as, you know, reimbursements, we’re not liable,” he said.
AEP customers that were affected can sign up for the program until July 29, either online or by visiting a community agency.
Not everyone agrees with the extent AEP is offering help.
The Ohio Consumers’ Counsel wants the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to do more than just review the power outages. The OCC wants there to be a full investigation and the PUCO to help AEP customers file claims against AEP for the damages done during the storms.
