OHIO — Ohio residents will have a chance to catch September’s Harvest Moon lighting up the night sky this weekend.

The moon officially reaches its full phase at 12:49 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday, Sept. 26, according to astronomical data from the U.S. Naval Observatory. Because the exact moment occurs during daylight hours, the full moon will be best viewed after sunset Saturday evening as it rises into the eastern sky.

The Harvest Moon is the name traditionally given to the full moon occurring closest to the autumn equinox. This year’s autumn equinox occurred on Sept. 22, making Saturday’s full moon the Harvest Moon.

The name dates back to a time when farmers relied on the moon’s evening light to continue harvesting crops after sunset. Around the Harvest Moon, the time between successive moonrises is shorter than usual in the Northern Hemisphere, providing several evenings of additional light.

For Ohio residents hoping to see it, no special equipment is necessary. The moon will be visible with the naked eye, although binoculars can provide a closer look at features on the lunar surface.

The moon will appear nearly full Friday and Saturday nights, but Saturday marks the official full moon, making Saturday evening the main opportunity for Ohioans to head outside and take in this year’s Harvest Moon.

Source: U.S. Naval Observatory

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio is set to receive $273 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to modernize the state’s existing high-voltage electric infrastructure as electricity demand continues to increase.

Gov. Mike DeWine announced the funding on Sept. 24 as part of the federal Speed to Power through Accelerated Re-conductoring and other Key Advanced Transmission Technology Upgrades initiative, known as SPARK. Ohio Governor’s Office announcement

According to the Governor’s Office, $137 million of the award will be allocated to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. PUCO will work with transmission utilities to deploy technology designed to increase how much electricity existing transmission infrastructure can carry.

State officials estimate the improvements could add the equivalent of 5,820 megawatts of capacity to Ohio’s electric grid. The goal is to increase capacity through upgrades to infrastructure already in place, reducing the need for additional power plants or transmission lines.

The investment comes as Ohio prepares for increased electricity demand over the next decade, including demand associated with new businesses, manufacturing operations and other large electricity users.

Ohio had already taken steps toward using advanced transmission technology through House Bill 15, which was enacted in 2025. PUCO has also studied opportunities for deploying the technology across the state.

The $273 million award will allow Ohio to move forward with those efforts while focusing on increasing the capacity of the existing transmission system.

Source: Ohio Governor’s Office, Sept. 24, 2026.

OHIO — A familiar name on electric bills across eastern Ohio will soon look different. Beginning Oct. 1, AEP Ohio will operate under the name Ohio Power Company, accompanied by a redesigned monthly bill for its approximately 1.5 million customers statewide.

Despite the new branding, customers should not expect changes to their electric service, rates, account information, payment options or existing methods of contacting the utility. No action is required from customers as part of the transition.

The company has long operated legally as Ohio Power Company, and the change will bring that name to the forefront of its public branding. Customers will begin seeing Ohio Power Company on electric bills, online services, customer communications and other company materials.

Along with the new name, October bills will have a different appearance. The redesigned format, approved earlier this year by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, is intended to make the different costs included in a customer’s monthly electric bill easier to identify.

The new statements will provide a clearer breakdown of distribution, transmission and generation charges, along with information about a customer’s electricity supplier and monthly energy usage.

That distinction is significant because the utility does not control every charge appearing on a customer’s bill. Ohio Power Company operates as a distribution-only electric utility under Ohio law. Its role includes maintaining the infrastructure used to deliver electricity to homes and businesses, while electricity generation is handled separately. The company says it does not generate electricity or earn a profit from generation purchased on behalf of customers.

Company President Marc Reitter said the redesigned bill is intended to give customers a better understanding of where their monthly charges originate and which portions of their electric costs are controlled by the utility.

The change will also include a new online identity. The company’s current AEP Ohio website will transition to OhioPowerCo.com in October. Customers who visit the existing website will be automatically redirected to the new site.

Existing customer-service numbers, payment methods and mobile-app access will continue to work.

Ohio Power Company serves nearly 1,000 communities across the state and employs approximately 1,400 people. The utility says its employees had contributed more than 3,330 volunteer hours across Ohio through September, while the Ohio Power Company Foundation had provided approximately $1.3 million to 131 organizations this year.

For customers, the biggest noticeable differences beginning Oct. 1 will be the Ohio Power Company name and the redesigned electric bill. Electric service itself will continue without changes related to the rebranding.