AEP Ohio interrupted power to thousands of customers in the Grove City area Nov. 16 to make emergency repairs to the company's McComb Substation, which was hit by copper thieves over the weekend.
"We had to interrupt power to nearly 12,000 customers in the Grove City area," Natalie McCord, AEP Ohio Columbus District distribution manager, said in a press release.
Since mid-June, about 40 AEP Ohio substations have been hit by copper thieves. The average cost of repair is $25,000.
The company offers up to a $5,000 reward to anyone who provides information resulting in an arrest and conviction for theft and vandalism at AEP Ohio facilities.