AEP plans new $4M site

AEP Ohio is building a $4 million service center in Oak Grove to replace an existing facility in Marietta.

Jeff Rennie, a spokesman for the company, said AEP inherited the station when it took over service in Washington County from Allegheny Power in 2006 and the facilities can no longer suit its needs.

"We explained to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio that we need to integrate this into our system. The building is part of that integration" he said. "The current facility is too small and the buildings are very old."

According to the Washington County auditor's office, AEP bought 8.83 acres of land in Oak Grove in December for $352,500.

Construction began on the service center a month ago, and Rennie said the current plans have it being finished in March.

"The new building will give us a lot more room," he said. "We will have much more storage space for our equipment."

Rennie said the cost of the new facility will eventually be included, in the base rate customers' pay, but the company will not seek a rate increase from the PUCO in the near future to cover it.

"We don't plan to recover the cost for several years," he said.

The current service center is at 1010 Greene St. in Marietta. Rennie said all of the 40 workers from the current center will be transfered to the Oak Grove facility, at 250 BF Goodrich Road.

The new center will take up nearly 10 acres.

Rennie described the center as the base of operations for several functions. Power line workers report in and store their equipment there, customer service representatives for the area work there, and an engineering group is based in it.

Val Holley, Marietta treasurer, said the city might lose a little property tax revenue when the center moves to Oak Grove.

"If they are still employing people who live in the city, then we will still be getting those returns," she said. "The city only gets a small percentage of the property taxes."

Because of business confidentiality, Holley said she could not give the exact figure for how much the city makes from the property taxes on the current service center.

Member Comments

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teaglass97
08-29-08 3:56 PM »Report Abuse	I see the Neighbors For Clean Air Act on the grounds before the Breaking Ground Ceremony. Hurry AEP, roll out the construction equipment before the huggers get there.
peppie
08-29-08 3:26 PM »Report Abuse	We live in a depressed area as far as jobs go. A new business will help the economy here, I'm sure there are people who will be happy to be able to support their families on a better income. The main place the new truck route would disturb would be the farm land along the river. The construction of a new bridge and roads will also help the job situation in this area. The problem with this area is that the people are afraid of change. It is better to have change than to have the young people or others leave the area to seek employment. If you care about Oak Grove, you will encourage this business, construction and new bridge. This will let more people see your area and they may like it and move in.
Parrothead
08-29-08 1:48 PM »Report Abuse	NO!!!!!!!!! New business and construction in residential Oak Grove! There goes the neighborhood!
peppie
08-29-08 1:06 PM »Report Abuse	Maybe this will help to get the truck routed around Marietta, instead going through Marietta.

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