Fed Funding Grid Support, But Consumers on the Line

October 17, 2025--Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Catering to the demand surge from data centers and manufacturing, American Electric Power Company Incorporated (Columbus, Ohio) said Thursday it secured a $1.6 billion loan guarantee from the federal government to overhaul some 5,000 miles worth of power lines across the U.S. Midwest. "This loan saves our customers money and improves reliability while supporting economic growth in our states," said Bill Fehrman, the chief executive officer of AEP. "The funds we will save through this program enable us to make additional investments to enhance service for our customers."