AEP Ohio filed a plan with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to create a competitive-bid power supply option that customers could choose instead current pricing plans.

Under the plan, which follows a July 5 Ohio Supreme Court ruling sending the company's rate stabilization plan to PUCO, AEP Ohio will survey customers to determine what price level they would participate in a standard power option.

An independent party will tabulate the responses and provide a summary for qualified power bidders.

The bidders are the companies who supply electric to AEP Ohio.

Company spokesman Doug Flowers said it is too soon to know if the plan will save customers money.

Once bids are analyzed by the independent party, interested customers who have contacted AEP Ohio in advance would be notified of a successful bid and placed in the program.

All other AEP Ohio customers will be notified of the new power supply options and will have 21 days to enroll in the program.

Rates under the options will remain in effect until Dec. 31, 2008.

Customers who do not participate in the plan will continue to pay current prices under AEP Ohio's rate stabilization plan. They can also buy power directly from alternative retail power suppliers under Ohio's deregulation law.

JEFF BARRON can be reached at (740) 353-3101, ext. 236.