New Westville Improvements

AES Ohio is investing in the electric transmission system to help improve reliability and operational flexibility for all customers within and surrounding Preble County. The improvement project involves building approximately 14 miles of new transmission lines, rebuilding five miles of existing transmission lines and a new distribution substation. AES Ohio is committed to safe reliable service for new and existing customers, and upgrades are necessary to strengthen the electric transmission system. This area is presently served by a single 33kV transmission line primarily constructed in the 1930s. A single outage on this line results in a complete outage to all customers served from the current New Westville substation. The proposed power lines will loop feed the load so that one line can go out and the other will remain in service to keep the power on. This will significantly increase electric reliability in the area.

Ohio Siting Board process

The rules established by the Ohio Power Siting Board (OPSB) require AES Ohio to study multiple routes and to submit two routes for the board’s evaluation. Either route will allow AES Ohio to satisfy the objects for reliability standards. All routes have advantages and drawbacks. The public information meeting will help determine which route to recommend as preferred and which to recommend as the alternative route.

The OPSB is responsible for reviewing all the information related to the project – including input from the public – and determining whether the facility will meet the suitability and necessary requirements of the siting process. Ohio’s siting process requires that the proposed facilities:

• Satisfy the public need criteria for the facility
• Satisfy all engineering requirements of the project
• Address the compatibility of the facility with existing land use in the area and
• Address the socioeconomic, land use, ecological, cultural, and environmental effects of the facility on the area.

The OPSB will make the final decision regarding which route is selected. Members of the public are encouraged to comment about this project. You can comment by calling 937-701-0674 or sending an email inquiry to aesohionewprojectoutreach@aes.com.

You can also send your comments directly to the OPSB at its contact information listed below.

Persons can request notice of the board meeting by signing up on the board’s website or contacting them at the phone number listed below. Persons who desire to intervene in the board proceeding shall prepare and file with the OPSB a petition setting forth the grounds for the proposed intervention and the interest of the petitioner in the proceedings within 30 days after the date of publication of notice required in accordance with paragraph (A)(1) of Rule 4906-3-09 of the Ohio Administrative Code. The 30 days will commence following notification after an accepted application is filed with OPSB. Upon an accepted, complete application being deemed filed, the board or administrative law judge shall promptly fix the date(s) for the public hearing(s) and notify the parties. After filing an accepted, complete application with the board, the applicant shall give two notices of the proposed utility facility, one of which shall be a written notice to each owner of a property crossed and/or adjacent to the preferred and alternative routes for the transmission line and will include the time and place of the public and adjudicatory hearings. You may also contact OPSB at any time regarding the project and/or to request information pertaining to the public hearing at the contact information below.

Contact information for the OPSB:

Ohio Power Siting Board
180 East Broad Street
Columbus, Ohio
43215-3793
Tel: (866) 270-6772
opsb.ohio.gov