Residents in several local communities could be among 110,000 in Central Ohio to receive AEP’s new smart meters.

The $150 million project will provide new meters that will track when the most power is used.

The goal is to save nearly $6 million a year by reducing energy consumption by 15 percent.

Half of the project will be paid for with stimulus funds.

The installations will begin in mid-December in Pataskala, Johnstown, Alexandria and New Albany among other communities in the region.