Letters: 'Unreliable' AEP was unprepared. Customers with medical needs not made priority.
AEP 'unprepared' — or 'unaware'?
Due to AEP’s unreliability, several years ago, I had a whole-house generator installed at considerable expense. So, I have not experienced disruption in electricity to my home in the latest electricity outage that AEP has inflicted on its customers.
However, I could not help thinking about all those people who endured days without electric power to their fans, air conditioners, refrigerator/freezers (despite the current cost of food), and many other appliances.
More: How long is food good in the fridge and freezer after a power outage?
Additionally, what about the potential for auto accidents? AEP’s power shutdowns included traffic lights, some at the most dangerous intersections (e.g., Henderson and Olentangy).
AEP’s reason for the circulating outages during this hot spell? They were unprepared! Really, AEP? You haven’t heard of global warming and the predications of hotter summers? You are always prepared to want and accept higher rates. Oh, and you continue to burn coal to provide electric power. Maybe that explains why you were unprepared, or is a better word: unaware?
If I lived I in a state where the Supreme Court had enough teeth to punish the governor and other Republicans for ignoring the law and citizens’ vote about redistricting, I might think that government would go after AEP for their neglect and incompetence. But this is Ohio. Wake up, voters.
Donald J. Cegala, Columbus
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Dogs given priority status, not humans
In regard to AEP’s intentional power outages in Columbus, I was disturbed to see shelter dogs receiving charity on today’s cover. What about the many chronically ill Ohioans in homes using various forms of life support?
More: A dog shelter in Ohio lost power amid blazing heat. The community showed up to keep the pups cool.
They are customers who register with AEP when they begin to use medical oxygen, ventilators, feeding pumps, electric hospital beds and wheelchairs, ceiling lifts for transfers to wheelchairs and exiting hot homes, or in emergencies.
All of this was made impossible, instantly, by AEP’s “decision to shut off power in some neighborhoods … to keep outages from spreading and making it even harder and longer to restore power.”
More: AEP Ohio intentionally shut off power to some Greater Columbus neighborhoods. Here's why
They register hoping to be given priority status for restoration or spared due to the needs and danger involved. AEP gave no priority status or warning to me on Tuesday at 4 p.m. I am registered because my daughter needs no less than four machines in daily life.
This is not just disturbing, this is a violation of civil rights and must be investigated and punished. I call on PUCO, and Bruce Weston, agency director of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, to step up for the humans in Columbus, Ohio. We don’t need charity, we need our rights.
Amanda Runyon Lynch, Clintonville
'Share the wealth' of outages
Does AEP have an address that I can send my gasoline bill to for all the fuel I had to buy to support my generator for the two days they intentionally cut my power? Would love to know.
More: Before throwing away spoiled food due to AEP power outage, think about filing a claim
I would also like to know in advance, not by surprise, if there is ever a need to do that again, as well as AEP sharing the wealth of forced outages amongst customers so the same people aren't out for multiple days while others are never affected — like maybe four-hour time blocks for different areas so you don't lose all your refrigerator and freezer contents.
S.L. Pierce, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: AEP outage endangered those with health, medical problems
