Case Study: American Electric Power achieves faster problem-solving and millions in cost savings with Smartsheet

American Electric Power consolidates processes and speeds problem-solving with an eye toward cost savings

American Electric Power (AEP), the investor-owned utility that operates the largest transmission grid in North America and serves 5.5 million customers, needed faster, cost‑effective ways to innovate while meeting safety and regulatory requirements. Long IT development cycles (12–24 months) and fragmented field processes made it hard to test and scale improvements without reverting to old habits, so AEP sought a low‑code/no‑code platform to speed delivery and reduce costs.

Using Smartsheet (Control Center, DataMesh, WorkApps and mobile forms), AEP rapidly prototyped and deployed solutions to capture field data, improve safety oversight, prioritize work, and consolidate apps. Mobile DOP forms helped reduce claim denials (a pilot saved $40,000 in two months — about $10,000/month per district — with a potential $4.8M annual savings if expanded), while dashboards and real‑time visibility shortened decision cycles, cut travel and paperwork, and saved millions through more efficient operations.

American Electric Power