AEP Subsidiary Wins Oklahoma Approval to Add 675 Megawatts of Wind Generation

The Oklahoma Corporation Commission approved a settlement allowing Public Service Company of Oklahoma to recover costs to add 675 megawatts of wind power the state, according to a Feb. 20 news release. The move will not increase rates for customers, as cost savings resulting from the project will be passed on to them.

Public Service will own 45.5 percent of a 1,485-megawatt portfolio of wind projects, which it proposes to acquire with Southwestern Electric Power Co. The ownership share of Public Service is projected to save the utility’s customers more than $1 billion, net of cost, during the time the wind farms are in service.

Upon approval from Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, the four-state project would result in total savings of $1.42 billion over the 31-year life of the project for customers of both the utilities.

The project comprises of three wind generation facilities that will be located in Custer, Blaine, Garfield, Kingfisher, Major, Woods and Alfalfa counties.

SWEPCO and Public Service of Oklahoma are subsidiaries of American Electric Power Company Inc.