AEP Power Outage Map: How to Check the Outages in Ohio & Indianapolis

1. What Is the AEP Power Outage Map?

American Electric Power (AEP) is one of the biggest power companies in the United States. Through its operating companies, it serves customers in Ohio, Indiana, and several other states. When storms, equipment failures, or accidents happen, AEP and its affiliates use online outage maps to show where the power is out and how restoration is progressing.

Two tools matter most if you live in Ohio or near Indianapolis:

• AEP Ohio Outage Map – for most AEP customers in Ohio.
• Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) Outage Map – an AEP company serving parts of Indiana and Michigan, including some customers in the greater Indianapolis region.

In addition, many Indianapolis residents are served by AES Indiana, which provides its own real-time outage map and reporting tools. This guide will walk you through all of these, so you know exactly where to look based on the name on your power bill.

2. How to Check AEP Power Outages in Ohio

AEP Ohio provides a dedicated outage map that shows where customers are out of power, how many are affected, and whether crews are assigned.

2.1 Step-by-step: Use the AEP Ohio outage map

1. Go to the official AEP Ohio outage map. Open your browser and visit the AEP Ohio real-time outage map or the AEP Ohio outage status page .
2. Open the real-time map. Click on the link or button that says something like “View Outage Map” or “Outage Status.” This brings up a state map with color-shaded areas and outage symbols.
3. Search by address or ZIP code. Use the built-in search box to enter your street address or 5-digit ZIP code. The map will zoom in on your neighborhood so you can see if your location is inside an active outage area.
4. Zoom and pan for more detail. Pinch to zoom or use the map controls to inspect nearby streets, towns, and counties. Icons or colored blocks typically indicate clusters of customers without power.
5. Check estimated restoration time (ERT). When available, click on the outage symbol or shaded region. A side panel or pop-up will often show:
   • Number of customers affected.
   • When the outage was first reported.
   • Cause, if known (storm damage, equipment issue, etc.).
   • Estimated restoration time or status.
6. Sign up for alerts. On the same outage page, you can typically register or log in to get text/email updates about your specific account, so you don’t have to keep refreshing the map.

2.2 Why the AEP Ohio map sometimes looks “wrong”

It’s normal for the map to lag behind reality by a short time. Outage maps rely on customer reports, smart meters, and crew updates. After a major storm, it can take a while for:

• New outages to appear on the map.
• Exact causes to be confirmed.
• Estimated restoration times to stabilize.

Use the map as a guide, but follow local news and official alerts for critical information during severe weather.

3. How to Check Power Outages Around Indianapolis

The Indianapolis area is served by more than one electric utility. That’s why residents sometimes get confused when they search “AEP outage map Indianapolis” and see several different sites.

4. Other Helpful Outage Maps & Tools

Beyond the official AEP and AES maps, a few other tools can help you see the bigger picture during widespread outages.

4.1 Statewide outage dashboards

Independent outage aggregation sites collect public data from multiple utilities and display it on a single map. For example, statewide dashboards for Ohio and Indiana can show:

• How many customers are out across the state.
• Which utilities are most affected.
• Which counties are seeing the highest outage percentages.

These tools are great for context, but your official utility map is still the primary source for your specific address.

4.2 City or county outage pages

Some cities and municipal utilities publish their own outage maps or dashboards. If you live in a large metro area, check your city’s website or local utility for:

For a statewide view, you can also use independent aggregators like PowerOutage.us , which shows outages by state and by utility, including AEP Ohio, Indiana Michigan Power, and AES Indiana.

• Localized outage maps.
• Storm response updates.
• Cooling/warming center locations and hours.

4.3 Alerts, texts and apps

Most utilities now allow you to sign up for:

• Text alerts when an outage is detected on your account.
• Email updates, including estimated restoration times.
• Push notifications through an official mobile app.

Set these up before the next storm season, so you’re not scrambling while your phone battery is already low.

5. Safety & Communication During an Outage

5.1 What to do as soon as the power goes out

• Check your breaker panel to rule out a tripped breaker inside your home.
• Look at the street to see whether neighbors still have power.
• Report the outage through your utility’s website, app, or phone line if it’s not already on the map.
• Unplug sensitive electronics or use surge protection to guard against sudden voltage spikes when power returns.

5.2 When to treat it as an emergency

Call 911 and your utility’s emergency number if you notice:

• Downed or sparking power lines.
• Smoke, fire, or an electrical burning smell.
• Flooded basements with electrical equipment under water.
• Medical devices that are losing power without a backup.

5.3 Staying connected

During outages, you’ll rely heavily on your phone and any backup batteries you own. Use power carefully:

• Switch phones to low-power mode.
• Turn off non-essential background apps and notifications.
• Text instead of calling when networks are busy.
• Keep at least one small light or headlamp dedicated to emergency use.

6. Backup Power Options for AEP Customers

Power outage maps tell you what’s happening, but they don’t keep your food cold or your phone charged. A simple backup power setup can turn a stressful outage into an inconvenience instead of a crisis.

6.1 Why consider a portable power station instead of a gas generator?

• Works indoors (no fumes) for small loads like routers, phones, medical devices that are safe to run on battery power.
• Virtually silent, so you can use it at night or in apartments without disturbing neighbors.
• No gasoline storage, oil changes, or pull-starts to worry about.
• Pairs well with solar panels for longer outages.

6.2 UDPOWER options sized for Ohio & Indianapolis outages

UDPOWER’s LiFePO₄ portable power stations are designed for repeated daily use and frequent charging cycles, which is exactly what you want for storm season. Here’s how a few models line up with typical outage needs:

6.3 Adding solar panels for extended outages

For multi-day outages, consider pairing your power station with a folding solar panel:

• UDPOWER 120W Portable Solar Panel – a suitcase-style 120W panel with about 22% efficiency, adjustable tilt bracket, and plug-and-play connection options.
• On sunny days, it can put several hundred watt-hours back into a compatible power station, helping you stretch through multi-day grid outages.
• Always follow the manual for safe setup, and bring panels inside during high winds or severe storms.

7. FAQs About AEP Power Outage Maps