You’ve probably heard mention of El Niño and La Niña, but what do they have to do with your electric service? 

Both are large climate drivers that have a background effect on the weather we experience in Ohio. Right now, we’re transitioning to La Niña, meaning sea surface temperatures in parts of the Pacific Ocean are cooling, and the atmospheric response to those changes may impact seasonal weather patterns across North America. Check out this video from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to see how the ocean’s temperature can impact weather around the world. 

What This Means for Ohio

It’s already been a more active spring and summer storm season, and our AEP meteorology team doesn’t expect that to change. For Ohio, the transition to La Niña means we’ll likely experience higher-than-average temperatures during the summer and early fall, plus more severe weather that can potentially damage our lines and equipment — causing power outages.  

How We Stay Prepared  

• Our AEP meteorology team monitors the weather to help us better prepare the electric grid, our customers and field crews. Their weather forecasts and alerts give us the information we need to notify you when severe weather could cause power outages or unusually hot (or cold) weather could impact your electric bill. Their information also plays a big role in ensuring we have crews in the right locations to respond quickly following severe weather. It also allows us to prepare field crews for the conditions they’ll be working in to restore power.
   
• We work closely with PJM, our regional power grid operator, to monitor the flow of electricity 24/7, every day of the year. When they anticipate extreme temperatures that could increase the demand for electricity, they might issue a hot weather alert and require us to ask customers to conserve energy to help protect the grid. 
   
• Additionally, our crews are out every day working to ensure you have safe, reliable electricity. We do that by proactively inspecting and repairing equipment and poles, installing new smart technology and trimming trees away from our lines and equipment to remove any threats. 

What You Can Do 

While you can’t control the weather, there are a few things you can do that can help make a difference:

• The warmer temperatures we’re expecting mean you’ll probably use more electricity to cool your home — resulting in a higher electric bill. Visit your AEP Ohio Energy Dashboard for insight into what uses the most electricity in your home and to find ways to lower your energy use.
   
• Develop an outage plan and emergency kit to prepare your family and home for severe weather that could come with little warning. 
   

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