THE SHORT ANSWER
AEP Ohio requires an interconnection application and agreement, and customers with a competitive supplier should ask that supplier how excess generation is treated. Verify both before projecting a long-term bill result. [1] [2]
Identify utility delivery and energy supply
Find the service address, AEP Ohio delivery account and any competitive retail supplier on the bill. A Columbus address alone does not determine the proposal’s export assumptions. Save the account details with the usage history used for sizing.
Use one documented energy baseline
Collect twelve months of kWh usage and label future EV, heat-pump, pool or occupancy changes separately. Ask the proposal to show measured usage, added-load assumptions and expected production without turning an uncertain future purchase into a precise guarantee.
Resolve export treatment before comparing savings
AEP Ohio states that customers with a competitive supplier should contact that supplier about excess energy treatment. [1] Ask the proposal team to date its tariff and supplier assumptions and show remaining utility purchases and charges. Ohio’s net-metering rule requires utilities to publish information about potential application, interconnection and meter costs. [3]
Keep authorization as its own milestone
AEP Ohio requires an interconnection application before a distributed energy resource connects to its grid. [2] Track design, permit, installation, inspection, application and permission to operate separately. A projected install date is not evidence of utility authorization.
Before your next conversation
- Confirm AEP Ohio and any competitive supplier.
- Collect twelve months of usage.
- Ask how exports and remaining charges are modeled.
- Date the tariff and supplier assumptions.
- Track interconnection and permission to operate separately.
Primary sources
- AEP Ohio: Renewable Energy and Net Energy Metering
Checked October 1, 2026. AEP Ohio requires an application and interconnection agreement and tells customers with a competitive supplier to confirm how exported electricity is treated.
- AEP Ohio: Solar and Distributed Energy Interconnection
Checked October 1, 2026. AEP Ohio states that distributed energy resources require an interconnection application before connection to its grid.
- Ohio Administrative Code 4901:1-10-28
Checked October 1, 2026. Ohio’s net-metering rule describes eligible technologies, utility information requirements and potential application, interconnection and meter costs.
Planning examples and questions are Origin’s editorial guidance, not a property-specific diagnosis, engineering design, tax determination or promise of savings. Manufacturer and utility references do not imply an affiliation with Origin.
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