For Kentucky Power’s operations team, the first quarter of 2026 focused on putting measures in place to shorten zones which will limit how far outages spread to reduce the number of homes and businesses affected.

This approach reflects a broader reliability plan centered on eliminating outages where possible and shortening their duration. This data-driven strategy, which is applied annually, is already complete in some areas.

In the first three months of the year, crews have already met some improvement goals and made the following progress in the plans to improve system performance across Kentucky Power’s service area:

• Adding protective devices on unfused taps that reduce the number of customers affected by outages: 105% complete, exceeding the goal by 43 fuses to date
• Replacing and upgrading cutouts that prevent larger outages: 113% complete, with 1,019 replacements completed to date
• Installing switches that allow crews to reroute power to another source during an outage: 90% complete
• Installing and updating reclosers that automatically restore service after a brief interruption: 23% complete
• Pole replacements for storm-hardening: The majority of this work scheduled for the second half of the year with an estimated goal of 850 replacements.

 “One of the projects we are ahead of schedule on includes installing protective devices on previously unfused taps — sections of line where outages could historically affect a much larger number of customers,” said Phillip Tolliver, distribution system manager.

By adding these devices, crews are effectively shortening the “fault zone,” allowing outages to be isolated more quickly and preventing them from spreading across larger portions of the circuit.

“It’s going back to adding value by reducing the number of customers affected by an outage,” Tolliver said. “Taking a situation where hundreds of customers could be out and reducing that to just a handful makes a real difference for the people we serve.”

For second quarter system improvements performing “find and fix” work, crews are focusing on three of the longest circuits in the service area that serve thousands of Kentucky Power customers:

• Busseyville Circuit – approximately 100 miles, serving about 1,600 customers
• Stanville Mud Creek Circuit – approximately 86 miles, serving about 1,680 customers
• Leslie-Wooten Circuit – approximately 130 miles, serving about 1,500 customers

“Due to their length and terrain, these circuits are more susceptible to outages and can affect a larger number of customers when issues occur,” Tolliver said. “Crews are applying a ‘find and fix’ approach on these lines which means they are conducting detailed inspections and addressing issues in real time.”

Crews are also installing tie lines, which connect sections of the distribution system and provide alternate pathways for electricity to flow. These connections allow operators to reroute power during an outage, restoring service to portions of a circuit more quickly while repairs are underway.

“These targeted strategies are only one part of the work we do,” Tolliver said. “All year long, crews encounter other issues while working in the field and those are addressed as well as the day-to-day work required to provide customers with reliable and safe service.”