AEP Energy
Is This Your Business?1.0
1.0
Author: Kalicia Bateman
LAST UPDATED: March 11th, 2022
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Cancellation Fee
- Late Payment Fee
Cancellation Fee
AEP Energy has some good standout features customers will see as beneficial. The first thing is that they do not have a cancellation fee if you want to get out of your contract. This is a huge perk because most others will not match this same offer. Termination fees can be upwards of $250 sometimes so it can definitely save customers some money. AEP Energy's minimum of a 12-month contract doesn't need to be as worrisome because of the no cancellation fee. Customers can easily get out of their contract with a $0 charge.Late Payment Fee
Another common fee you will see among deregulated energy companies is that they have a late payment fee which is taken against a 12-month contract. AEP charges customer 1.5% of the contract which is nothing compared to the usual 5% several other companies charge. Of course, this won't need to be an issue if you are good about making on-time payments or have automatic withdrawals set up. But in the case that something happens, 1.5% on a year-long contract is pretty minuscule. We commend AEP Energy for applying lower charges when it comes to extra fees such as these.The Bad
- Undisclosed Information
- Electricity Fixed Rates
- Contract Terms
- Payment Options
Undisclosed Information
One of the most frustrating things that a potential customer will run into is when the most important information can't be found on a company website. Unfortunately, consumers will run into this problem multiple times when researching AEP Energy. We weren't able to find variable prices for natural gas and electricity as well as a fixed price for natural gas. Also, there are no mentions of minimum usage fees, monthly service charges and a deposit which are all common fees found amongst other deregulated energy companies. These are all types of information someone will want to see before considering the company they will want to sign up with. This is a huge issue if the information isn't available online. This simply means a customer will have to make an extra effort, such as calling in, to get the information they will need.Electricity Fixed Rates
The electricity fixed rate is the only price we could find when looking at AEP Energy. They charge $0.131/kWh and when comparing this to others who offer electricity at a fixed rate, it is far more expensive than their other competition. Because AEP Energy covers a variety of other states, consumers can look to other companies and get literally half of the prices AEP Energy offers. If this is the only price that is publically available, I'm not sure we can be confident that their other prices will be much better.Contract Terms
As mentioned above, AEP Energy's shortest contract length is only 12 months. Many people don't like longer contracts because they typically can't get out of it without paying a fee. However, with AEP, this isn't a completely bad scenario. They do not charge a cancellation fee which means that a customer could get out of a contract without paying anything. On the other end of the spectrum, their maximum length contract is 24 months. Usually, when a customer chooses a longer contract it's because they know they'll want to use the service for a longer period of time which will lock in a lower rate. Unfortunately, since AEP Energy's only price available is a relatively high in comparison, this might not be a very good choice either.Payment Options
Finally, we look at how many options are available for customers to pay, specifically four different ones. AEP currently does not offer ways to pay through ACH forms, commonly known as electronic checks, and credit or debit cards. We see a huge issue with this as credit and debit cards are the most popular forms of payment for customers today. This only leaves ways of paying directly through a bank account or handwritten checks to pay for their bill. For customers who seriously consider AEP Energy, we suggest making sure that these two options of payments work for you before signing up as they are not as common uses.The Bottom Line
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DMA Shreveport, LA
I have been a Louisiana customer for all my adult life. Like most working American people my bills have been paid late so by no means I am the ideal customer but non the less I am a paying customer of 20+ years.
In this area of Louisiana American Electric Power (AEP) is the only choice of electric providers we have. I feel that because of this it has limited the value of customer service we have from AEP. Because we do not have a choice of better services there is no standard to maintain customer satisfaction. Not having competitive services in this area leaves the customers here to deal with whatever AEP does because electricity is a necessity, we need the service and therefore being treated and charged unfairly.
I have called to discuss the matter with customer services representatives, and I am told there is nothing they can do to help me I have asked to speak with a member of management, and I been placed on hold and never answered by a member of management. I submitted a written complaint over a month ago AEP has not even bother to send a response to inform me that the written complaint has been placed in the recycle been.
I feel like a victim and this situation has caused me emotional distress.
4 years ago
M Chicago, IL
Worse customer service. Im not surprised they are the last company on texas to get power restored to thousands that are in dangerous conditions. The same happened to me in Indiana. I was without power for 4 days. My food went bad. Customer service told me to throw it out and file a claim. Then when I filed a claim they denied it saying they don't cover any damages weather related
5 years ago
Worthington, Ohio Columbus, OH
My generation provider was recently transferred without my verbal or written consent from American Electric Company to AEP Energy Inc. This was a fraudulent transfer as I did not authorize this transfer nor did I sign any contract. I had no knowledge about this transfer until recently, September 23, 2019. My statements were also changed from receiving them by mail to receiving them electronically. Again, I did not authorize this change either, which is why I am just now catching this.
7 years ago
Jonathan Westerville, OH
Was in my apartment for 2 years with AEP, moved out halfway through july and my roommate had moved out in June. I was at my home for 14 days in July and they charged me the same amount for those 14 days as they did the entire month of June. Wouldn't give me any reason why, just said there was nothing they could do to help or explain why it would have been the same price and that I had to pay what they billed for
7 years ago
Matt Dayton, OH
Horrible customer service, sent my account to collections with no notice. I have DPL as the local company and AEP was the Supplier. their rates went through the roof and the customer rep would not help at all. I switched because of this. then I got a collections notice less than a month later for a balance of less than $50. What company doesn't contact the customer first and just sends someone to collections. I have no problem paying them as I have since I found out what was owed. Now I have to fix the credit ding because of this. I would not recommend this company to anyone.
7 years ago
Qui Blacklick, OH
Been in my place for just a month in a half. How in the world that my bill is $450 already? Straight frauds! AEP is a trip and their customer service is rude. I'm glad other electric companies are branching out in Ohio so we don't have to mess with AEP any longer. Hot mess I tell you.
7 years ago
don rufener jr Uhrichsville, OH
i have been with aep energy for years this will be my last year they didnt meet kwh of the other power company. so paid big time guess lesson learned they lost a customer. do not do business with them you will pay higher price.
8 years ago
Munroe Collins, OH
Received no notice thru Mail or Email of account term was completed. Rate went from 5.6 to 7.49 in matter of 2 months. Cost us over $200 in extra costs. Be very careful with these guys.
7 years ago
Teresa Circleville, OH
My mother in laws bill went from 175 to 453 a month. How is this legal to prey on the elderly with a fixed income. They lie to get you signed up.
8 years ago
