Though it has gone by several names since its founding in 1906, American Electric Power (AEP) is one of the largest generators of electricity in the United States. With nearly 39,000 miles of transmission lines, AEP owns the nation’s largest transmission system and boasts 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity. The company serves more than 5 million customers across 11 states and is divided into seven geographic operating subsidiaries: AEP Texas, AEP Ohio, Appalachian Power, Kentucky Power, Indiana Michigan Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company.

Ensuring that all of its assets operate efficiently is a massive undertaking for AEP. It requires embracing the latest technological advancements to keep power flowing safely to the millions who rely on it daily. Since the mid-2010s, AEP Texas has been at the forefront of the company’s efforts to adopt emerging technologies, particularly drones. Over several years, the company tested drone applications and worked with local and federal authorities to develop a robust program.

By 2020, Ike Liles, Manager of Distribution Services for the Abilene district at AEP Texas, proudly announced that AEP was ready to launch its own drone division to support utility inspections. Moses Vega and Roland Segundo became the first two AEP Texas employees in Abilene to be trained and licensed as Part 107 drone operators. Alongside Ike, they officially launched the drone program in Uvalde, Texas, in February 2020, a milestone moment for the company.

Previously, AEP had relied on outside contractors to conduct drone inspections. But with an internal drone division firmly established, the company could now leverage the technology more regularly and efficiently. Ike explained that drones would serve as an extra eye in the sky for monitoring daily operations, assisting engineers with staking, and conducting post-storm inspections. “It is limitless what we can do with them,” he said.

Since then, AEP has expanded its drone use beyond Texas to support operations throughout its service territories. On May 8, 2025, AEP announced another major milestone in drone application for utility operations. Working closely with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), AEP Texas was granted a special waiver to operate drones Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). Eric Elizondo, Continuous Improvement Lead and Chief Drone Pilot for AEP Texas, explained that the waiver would allow AEP drone pilots to fully unlock the potential of this technology.

Enabling AEP to make full use of the BVLOS waiver is the installation of Skydio’s X10 drone docking station. The station securely houses a drone that can be remotely and rapidly deployed when an inspection is needed. “The missions will fly up and out,” Mr. Elizondo explained. “The drones will capture a 360-degree view of our equipment from the sky. With the BVLOS waiver and this recent technology, the drone will photograph, record, and live stream our assets in the critical breaker zone, the first critical miles outside of a substation. We will use the drone to identify damage or determine the cause of a fault.”

The BVLOS drone operations will not only help identify faults but also allow for inspections that can detect potential wildfire hazards, an essential task for utility workers as summer approaches. Mr. Elizondo added that this first-of-its-kind drone program firmly establishes AEP as a leader in utility management. “This technology has changed the game, and AEP Texas is a major player,” he said. The first X10 drone docking station has been set up at an AEP substation in Rachal, Texas. Over the coming weeks, AEP will install additional X10 stations at 10 other locations across Texas, with plans to eventually expand the program to all AEP sectors.

As AEP continues to lead the industry in innovation, the integration of autonomous drone technology marks a transformative step in how utility companies maintain infrastructure, ensure safety, and respond to emerging challenges. With initiatives like the BVLOS drone program, AEP is not only setting new standards in operational efficiency but also reinforcing its commitment to delivering reliable, forward-thinking energy solutions for the future.

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