Underground Cable Project

The life expectancy on any underground conductor is approximately 40 years. It’s time for it to be replaced to maintain the integrity and improve the reliability of your electric service.

We’ll be in touch at least four weeks before any work begins. You will receive a postcard in the mail, followed by an automated phone call approximately 48 hours before the work is done. When we arrive to check the cable in your yard, we will knock on your door to let you know. You do not need to be at home for our crews to perform the work in your yard. If excavation is necessary, we will leave a door hanger explaining the additional steps needed, and when we plan to return to work on your property.

The first step involves cable rejuvenation. To rejuvenate cables, we inject them with a liquid that fills in cracks in the old insulation. This is a less expensive and easier way to extend the cable’s life another 25-40 years. Click here to see the cable rejuvenation process. If rejuvenating isn’t an option due to the state of the cable, we’ll replace the cable entirely.

If we determine the cable in your yard is not a candidate for the injection process, a lineman will leave a door hanger with additional steps that we will take at a later date. We will also call O.U.P.S., Ohio Utilities Protection Services, to notify them that we will need to dig on your property, and make sure our crews do not interfere with any other underground cables. We will mark the area where we dig. The work will take place within two to ten business days.

Our goal is to minimize any inconvenience to you. Rest assured, crews will work to restore any impacted areas of your yard.

The cables are underground on your property. Generally, they are located in your backyard near the transformer.

Yes. The injection process used to rejuvenate an underground cable quickly and safely will return it to optimum performance and prolong the cable’s life, therefore improving the reliability of your electric service.

You do not need to be home when we come to check the cable in your yard. Aside from having AEP Ohio contractors in your yard for approximately 90 minutes, there should be no interruption in your electric service. If it is determined that your cable needs replaced, we will notify you by leaving a door hanger explaining the next steps.

You should not experience a power outage during this work. Crews may need to take an emergency power outage for their safety if unforeseen circumstances arise.

We will be working on the cable rejuvenation project in 132 neighborhoods across Columbus. We have 1.2 million feet of cable to inject over the next three years. Replacing cable will be an ongoing project.