# Columbus: what a 50 MW connection costs under AEP Ohio

URL: https://open-factory.com/power/columbus/
Data as of: 2026-08-21
Publisher: Open Factory, https://open-factory.com

**What does a 50 MW connection cost in Columbus?** In Columbus, AEP Ohio connects a 50 MW load under Schedule DCT (Data Center Tariff), docket PUCO 24-508-EL-ATA (approved 2025-07-09). Minimum bill: 15,000 kW plus 85% of contract capacity above 25,000 kW, capped at 85%. Term: ramp (max 4 years) plus 8 years = up to 12 years. Realistic energization: 2031 to 2033. Open Factory's Large-Load Cost Table, as of August 21, 2026.

## Facts

- Market: Columbus, OH (PJM)
- Utility: AEP Ohio
- Tariff or rule: Schedule DCT (Data Center Tariff)
- Docket: PUCO 24-508-EL-ATA (approved 2025-07-09)
- Status: approved; next study tranche opens 2026-10-01 (applications by 2026-09-30)
- Large-load threshold: 25 MW (aggregate across affiliates)
- Study fee: $50,000 one-time load study fee for 50 to <100 MW ($10,000 for >25 to <50 MW; $100,000 for 100 MW+)
- Security or collateral: 50% of total minimum charges over the full contract term (waived only for A-/A3 credit with cash >10x the requirement); surety bonds not accepted
- Minimum bill: for 50 MW contract: 15,000 kW plus 85% of capacity above 25,000 kW = 36,250 kW (72.5% of contract); cap 85%; or 85% of highest demand in prior 11 months
- Contract term: ramp (max 4 years) plus 8 years = up to 12 years
- Ramp: 50/65/80/90% of contract capacity in years 1 to 4
- Exit fee: 36 months of minimum charges; allowed only after year 5 following the ramp; up to 25% of capacity may be assigned to another DCT customer instead; Letter of Agreement: 100% of buildout costs if the project cancels or slips more than 12 months before energization
- CIAC exposure: LOA reimbursement of 100% of buildout on cancellation; standard line-extension policy makes non-residential customers pay 40% of extension cost plus premium services (LBNL fn 5)
- Realistic energization, 50 MW: 2031 to 2033
- Verification: VERIFIED (utility tariff page and releases)
- Data as of: August 21, 2026

## Questions

### What does a 50 MW connection cost in Columbus?

AEP Ohio: study fee $50,000 one-time load study fee for 50 to <100 MW ($10,000 for >25 to <50 MW; $100,000 for 100 MW+); collateral 50% of total minimum charges over the full contract term (waived only for A-/A3 credit with cash >10x the requirement); surety bonds not accepted; minimum bill for 50 MW contract: 15,000 kW plus 85% of capacity above 25,000 kW = 36,250 kW (72.5% of contract); cap 85%; or 85% of highest demand in prior 11 months; term ramp (max 4 years) plus 8 years = up to 12 years.

### When can a 50 MW load be energized in Columbus?

2031 to 2033. CPS Energy planning presentation (PowerGen 2026) puts Columbus at 84 months; AEP Ohio's 17,861 MW of contracts come online through 2035 against an 8,000 to 10,500 MW peak.

### Which tariff applies to large loads in Columbus?

Schedule DCT (Data Center Tariff); docket PUCO 24-508-EL-ATA (approved 2025-07-09); status: approved; next study tranche opens 2026-10-01 (applications by 2026-09-30).

### Is this rate proposed or approved?

Approved or in effect as of the data date (approved; next study tranche opens 2026-10-01 (applications by 2026-09-30)). VERIFIED (utility tariff page and releases).

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- [What 50 MW Costs in 15 US Markets](https://open-factory.com/articles/what-50mw-costs-15-markets/)
- [Introducing the Large-Load Cost Table: 15 Markets Side by Side](https://open-factory.com/articles/large-load-cost-table-launch/)
- [The 2% Funnel: 474 GW Requested, 9 GW Approved, 5.8 GW Energized in ERCOT](https://open-factory.com/articles/ercot-funnel/)
- [A Factory Owner's Guide to the PJM Capacity Charge](https://open-factory.com/articles/pjm-capacity-factory-bill/)
- [The 2 MW Plant Service Upgrade Nobody Budgets Right](https://open-factory.com/articles/2mw-plant-service-upgrade/)
- [Datacenter Construction Is Eating Your Electricians](https://open-factory.com/articles/electricians-wages-by-metro/)

## Sources

- [Open Factory Large-Load Cost Table](https://open-factory.com/models/large-load-cost-table/)
- [aepohio.com (accessed 2026-09-09)](https://www.aepohio.com/company/about/rates/data-center-tariff/)
- [aep.com (2025-07-09)](https://www.aep.com/news/stories/view/10327/)
- [aepohio.com (2026-02-13)](https://www.aepohio.com/company/news/view?releaseID=10753)
- [avanzaenergy.substack.com (2026)](https://avanzaenergy.substack.com/p/data-centers-are-killing-the-grid)

Model: https://open-factory.com/models/large-load-cost-table/
Calculator: https://open-factory.com/tools/interconnection-cost/