AEP CHALLENGE 

A-E-P OHIO IS WARNING UTILITY BILLS COULD GO UP IF BIG TECH COMPANIES GET THEIR WAY IN COURT. 
A-E-P SAYS THE NEW DATA CENTERS COMING TO OUR AREA USE A LOT OF ENERGY. THAT'S WHY THEY WANT THE TECH GIANTS TO PAY UP FRONT TO MAKE SURE THEY MAKE GOOD ON THEIR PROMISE TO USE IT. A-E-P SAYS THEY CAN THEN INVEST THAT MONEY INTO THE POWER GRID TO SUPPORT THE DEMAND. BUT IF THE TECH COMPANIES BACK OUT WITHOUT PAYING YOUR BILLS COULD RISE TO COVER THE COST. A-E-P SAYS THAT'S WHY ITS CHALLENGING A PROPOSED SETTLEMENT THAT GIVES THE TECH COMPANIES THE ABILITY TO PULL OUT OF A DEAL AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. THE OHIO CONSUMER COUNSEL ALSO AGREES THIS COULD CAUSE YOUR RATES TO GO UP.