AEP transmission rebuild filing
American Electric Power (AEP) recently started the formal request process seeking Oklahoma Corporation Commission approval of its proposed $260 million project to improve an electric transmission line from Lawton to west of Ardmore in southern Oklahoma.
Additionally, Oklahoma Energy infrastructure expansion remains a core grid modernization focus statewide.
At the same time, the company revealed 16 other transmission line projects to be funded by a $1.6 billion Energy Department loan guarantee.
Also, federal loan support accelerates long-haul transmission investment velocity.
Corporation Commission filing details
“This Application is requesting approval to rebuild a transmission line and accompanying facilities to improve the reliability of service and the safety of the transmission line. The transmission line runs from the substations of Lawton East Side to Sunnyside (“the Project”),” stated AEP in its filing with the Corporation Commission (2025-000069).
Therefore, reliability performance remains central to long-term development justification.
As OK Energy Today reported in October, the project will cover current transmission lines across Carter, Comanche and Stephens Counties and as the filing stated, “is not directly connected to a specific energy resource.”
Finally, multi-county design scope expands South Oklahoma grid network interconnection flexibility.
OK Transco expects the electric transmission facility to be completed by December 31, 2029, at an expected cost of approximately $260 million based upon current market conditions.
Additionally, lead times reflect supply chain cadence now common across transmission EPC schedules.
345 kV rebuild requirement
The company explained, “The existing 345 kV transmission line needs to be rebuilt in order to address its condition and outage frequency. The rebuilt line will improve reliability, support increased load growth, and meet current engineering standards. This will involve rebuilding approximately 70 miles of the existing 345 kV transmission line.”
Also, aging high-voltage infrastructure continues to drive long-cycle capital allocation decisions.
DOE loan guarantee support
The State is one of five where AEP Transmission obtained a recent $1.6 billion loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office to upgrade nearly 5,000 miles of transmission lines.
Additionally, these federal commitments help accelerate transmission replacement pacing across multiple regions.
The other states are Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.
Therefore, national grid modernization alignment continues to expand beyond single-state resource planning.
Oklahoma project volume totals
In its original announcement of the loan guarantee, AEP only stated, “Approximately 100 miles of transmission lines across Ohio and Oklahoma are the first projects to be supported by the loan guarantee. Additional funding and projects will follow.”
Also, this staged deployment pacing indicates multi-phase allocation sequencing.
As the first press release from AEP showed, the company plans 17 total projects in Oklahoma to replace 1,434 miles of transmission line.
Finally, Oklahoma Energy developers expect material permitting volume increases as projects advance.
Public Service Company of Oklahoma, a subsidiary of AEP, could not identify what other projects the loan will fund in the state.
Therefore, stakeholders expect future OCC filings once project scoping becomes more public.
| State Transmission Company |
Total Projects | Line Miles Replaced | Customers Served (Approximate) |
| Ohio Transco | 76 | 2,122 | 1.5M |
| I&M Transco | 29 | 1,410 | 600,000 |
| Oklahoma Transco | 17 | 1,434 | 1.2M |
| West Virginia Transco | 4 | 26 | 460,000 |
OK Transco revealed the existence of the remaining 16 projects.
Current Projects
- Bartlesville Comanche – Blake Transmission Line Rebuild Project
- Catoosa – Verdigris Transmission Line Rebuild Project
- Duncan – Rush Springs Transmission Improvements Project
- Hobart – Snyder Transmission Improvements Project
- Lawton Eastside to Sunnyside 345 kV Transmission Line Rebuild Project
- Lawton – Southwestern Power Station Transmission Line Rebuild Project
- Lone Grove – Kiowa Transmission Line Rebuild Project
- Midtown Harvard Transmission Improvements Project
- North Yale Power Connect Project
- Red Oak – Talihina Transmission Line Rebuild Project
- Riverside – South Hudson Transmission Improvements Project
- South Chickasha Transmission Improvements Project
- Southern Oklahoma Transmission Improvements Project
- South Lawton Transmission Improvements Project
- Tulsa North – Pine & Peoria Transmission Line Rebuild Project
- Tuttle Area Power Improvements Project
- Weleetka – Okemah Transmission Line Rebuild Project