The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio has denied an attempt from Amazon and other organizations connected to the data center industry to reconsider on a landmark order that allows AEP Ohio to apply a different fee structure for data centers.
Amazon Data Services and the trade group Data Center Coalition were among the group that filed for a rehearing, arguing there were errors in PUCO’s July ruling that AEP Ohio can require data centers to pay a minimum of 85% of their highest forecasted electricity use, even if they use less, a rate referred to in the industry as a “tariff.” The minimum had been 60% for data centers and other industrial users.
AEP Ohio sought the tariff, believed to be the first of its kind in the county, in an effort to address unprecedented electrical demand from data centers, ensuring that data centers — instead of its other customers — pay for the transmission lines and other infrastructure required to serve the centers, The Dispatch previously reported.
When AEP Ohio first asked for the new fee structure in May 2024, the utility company said the surge in central Ohio data centers is expected to consume so much electricity in coming years that demand for power in the Columbus region will be similar to all of Manhattan.
In the Sept. 3 decision, PUCO states that the majority of the errors raised were addressed in the original order.
“None of the parties’ applications raise new issues that were not previously considered and rejected by the Commission; and nothing in the abovementioned assignments of error persuade the Commission to alter its previous findings on these matters. Mere disagreement with the Commission’s ultimate decision is not appropriate grounds for rehearing,” PUCO wrote in the ruling.
A data center identified on maps as CMH – Newton Campus, 2575 Newton Ct, in New Albany. The complex is at the southeast corner of Jug St. and Harrison Road photographed July 28, 2025.
The groups that sought the rehearing have 60 days to appeal PUCO’s decision to the Supreme Court of Ohio, a commission spokesperson wrote via email Sept. 16. But a case has not been filed as of Sept. 17, according to the court’s online docket.
Eastern Columbus suburbs reporter Maria DeVito can be reached at mdevito@dispatch.com and @mariadevito13.dispatch.com on Bluesky and @MariaDeVito13 on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: AEP’s data center charge plan may proceed after PUCO nixes appeal
