Aging Lines to Be Replaced with Modern Lattice Towers
AEP’s Oklahoma rebuild replaces 40-year-old wooden poles with new BOLD lattice towers, each standing 110 to 165 feet high. Approximately 380 towers will be installed along the Lawton East Side to Sunnyside transmission corridor.
AEP officials emphasized that the upgrade is not tied to a specific power generation source, but rather designed to stabilize the grid and reduce outage risks in Oklahoma’s energy infrastructure.
Public Meetings Planned Across Three Counties
AEP will host public meetings November 17–21 in Carter, Comanche, and Stephens Counties to share project details and gather community input.
According to Nathan M. Koch, Senior Project Manager at AEP Service Corporation, notices will appear in each county’s local newspaper and be provided to county commissioners.
Project Deemed Critical for Reliability and Growth
Barrett A. Thomas, AEP’s Transmission Line Engineering Manager, said the project will reduce the frequency of power outages and prepare the grid for future demand.
Between 2019 and 2024, the Lawton Eastside to Sunnyside line experienced 22 outages, resulting in over 410 hours of downtime due to lightning strikes, failed equipment, and aging infrastructure.
Cost Recovery and Rate Impact Still Unclear
Jeffrey L. Ellis, Transmission Planning Manager for AEP, testified that project costs will be recovered through OK Transco’s FERC-approved formula rate and the Southwest Power Pool.
Ellis continued that the costs of the the project are recovered from load serving entities or LSE. “Therefore, the retail impact for a residential customer cannot be determined because that is a function of cost-of-service calculations prepared by those LSE entities that are allocated a share of this project’s revenue requirement.”
Route and Technical Details
Gary L. McClanahan, Project Manager with POWER Engineers, said the 70-mile, 345-kV double-circuit capable line begins near Highway 7 east of Lawton and terminates near Lone Grove in Carter County. It connects substations owned by Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E).
The project is designed to increase reliability, reduce maintenance needs, and support Oklahoma’s growing energy demand for decades to come.
