Date: TODAY Monday, Monday August 28, 2023
Time: 12 PM
Location: AEP Headquarters, 1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, OH

A coalition of Ohio environmental & community activists will hold a press conference at the AEP Headquarters to deliver a petition with over 1,000 signatures Urging AEP to not raise electricity prices . Such an increase would have severe implications for many Ohioans, especially during a time of heightened inflation and rising food, gas, and energy costs.

Learn from ratepayers and activists today. The coalition, which includes Black Environmental Leaders Action Fund & Black Environmental Leaders Association, Columbus Stand Up, 350, Ohio Working Families Party, Green Worker Alliance and Sierra Club, stands in solidarity with the tens of thousands of families throughout Central Ohio at risk of facing harsher economic burdens due to this proposed rate increase. Dion Mensah of the Black Environmental Leaders Action Fund stated, "Families should not have to choose between keeping the lights on or having food to eat. Increasing rates at this time of heightened inflation, including rising energy costs, is ultimately violent."

Nick Stocks from 350 adds, "Along with their continued investments in dirty coal power, AEP is purely profit-driven. Last year one percent of shareholder dividends could have paid the balance of every overdue electric bill."

Meanwhile, Morgan Harper from Columbus Stand Up criticized AEP's preferential treatment, noting, "AEP has given discounts to Amazon, one of the largest and most profitable companies in the world, while asking everyday ratepayers to foot the bill."

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio will decide whether to approve AEP’s proposed rate increases before the end of the year.

For those who cannot attend the press conference but wish to support the cause or learn more, please visit the coalition's dedicated website: https://www.stopaepratehikes.com