AES Ohio Receives EEI Emergency Recovery Award for Supporting Power Restoration Efforts Across the Midwest

September 16, 2026

AES Ohio, a subsidiary of The AES Corporation (NYSE: AES), has been named a recipient of the Edison Electric Institute’s (EEI) Emergency Recovery Award for safely and efficiently restoring power after three major severe weather events, including tornadoes, across its 24-county service area. AES Ohio earned the EEI Emergency Recovery Award for its response to severe weather on March 11, March 13 and May 19, 2026. EF-0 tornadoes, 77–85 mph winds and hail caused widespread damage across West Central Ohio, with the March 13 storm affecting more than 80,000 customers. Crews safely completed restoration within 45, 90, and 61 hours, respectively. Smart grid technology and advanced metering infrastructure helped identify outages, enabling more efficient crew deployment, fewer truck rolls, and accelerated restoration. Mutual aid crews from AES Indiana and local municipal and cooperative electric utilities also supported the restoration effort.

Presented annually, EEI’s Emergency Response Awards recognize member electric companies for exceptional recovery efforts following severe weather events that disrupt electric service in their communities.

"When severe weather strikes, our member companies mobilize around the clock to restore power safely and as quickly as possible for the customers they serve,” said Drew Maloney, President and CEO of EEI. “EEI is proud to recognize AES Ohio with the Emergency Recovery Award for its outstanding response following severe weather on March 11, March 13 and May 19, 2026. This honor reflects the skill and determination of AES Ohio’s workforce, who prepare year-round—practicing, planning, and investing in resilience—so they’re ready to face the toughest conditions and get the lights back on for communities who depend on them.”

For AES Ohio, the award reflects a commitment that extends well beyond storm response.

“When severe weather causes power outages, our people are ready to step forward and help,” said Tom Raga, president of AES Ohio. “Whether we are restoring power for our own customers or working alongside neighboring utilities through mutual assistance, our focus remains the same: keeping customers safe, informed and connected. I’m incredibly proud of our crews and support teams whose expertise, professionalism and commitment to service earned this national recognition.”

The award comes during National Preparedness Month, an annual observance dedicated to helping communities prepare for emergencies before they happen. At AES Ohio, preparedness is a year-round focus that includes strengthening the electric grid, modernizing infrastructure, and equipping crews with the tools and training needed to respond to severe weather.

AES Ohio’s long-term investments are designed to reduce both the frequency and duration of outages. The company has deployed advanced technology and automation that allows operators to identify, isolate, and reroute power around damaged equipment more quickly, improving reliability for customers throughout West Central Ohio.

“Being ready to respond is part of our responsibility to the customers and communities we serve,” said Raga. “Our crews continually participate in training, storm-response exercises and coordination with mutual assistance partners. This award recognizes them and reflects their commitment to our customers and communities.” As West Central Ohio continues to grow and attract new investment, AES Ohio remains focused on building an electric system that can meet future energy needs while delivering the reliable service customers depend on today.

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About AES Ohio

AES Ohio is a subsidiary of The AES Corporation and provides regulated electric utility service to more than 540,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in a 6,000-square-mile service area in West Central Ohio. Our people operate and maintain more than 1,600 miles of transmission lines, 13,000 miles of overhead distribution lines, 4,500 miles of underground distribution lines, and 160 substations feeding 490 distribution circuits. Learn more about how AES Ohio is accelerating the future of energy, visit aes-ohio.com. Connect with AES Ohio on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

About EEI
The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. EEI members provide electricity for nearly 250 million Americans and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.