AEP Ohio is considering improvements to increase electric reliability and support economic development in the Bluffton surrounding area.

The utility company will hold a public meeting from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, June 13, in the Bluffton middle school to inform residents of feasibility upgrades proposed in Allen and Hancock counties.

The meeting provides information about a study area that includes the village, Richland, Orange and Union townships that cover four areas:
• rebuilding existing power lines
• building new power lines
• adding a substation
• upgrading substations

A flyer titled “Bluffton Area Improvements” (see attachment at the bottom) states that AEP Ohio plans to conduct studies to assess the feasibility of upgrades to the electric transmission network serving customers in Allen and Hancock counties.

The area’s power grid must be upgraded because of the age and condition of the transmission facilities, says AEP.

Three existing AEP transmission lines pass Bluffton on the west side of the village in Richland Township.

A map on the flyer shows the location of three future substations sites under consideration. Those are located:
• Napoleon Road north of Beaverdam
• south of Columbus Grove road between the village and Napoleon Road
• north of Bluffton on the Allen-Hancock County Line

The map shows the study area under consideration, which extends from Beaverdam to the south, through Bluffton and north of Bluffton