COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 18, 2001 - American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has promoted three senior staff members of its AEP Energy Services Inc. and Houston Pipe Line Company subsidiaries. Paul D. Addis, president of AEP Energy Services and executive vice president of AEP, made the announcement.

George Rooney, 42, has been promoted to senior vice president - marketing for AEP Energy Services. Rooney joined the company in 1997 as vice president - business development. Prior to joining AEP Energy Services, Rooney had been with Louis Dreyfus Energy and Duke/Louis Dreyfus in Connecticut. Rooney had been a trader and marketing manager with Dreyfus and its affiliates for 10 years. He has traded agricultural commodities (grains and oilseeds), natural gas and electricity. Rooney was instrumental in organizing and implementing Duke/Louis Dreyfus´ strategic alliance with Puget Sound Energy.

Rooney´s current responsibilities include the assessment and development of potential joint ventures, strategic alliances and business opportunities related to energy trading and marketing. Rooney earned his undergraduate degree in computer science from Texas A&M in 1980 and a master´s degree from Dartmouth College in 1983. He received a postgraduate degree in international relations from the London School of Economics in 1987.

Dwayne L. Hart, 37, has been promoted to senior vice president - strategic acquisitions and divestitures for AEP Energy Services. Hart joined AEP Energy Services in June 2000, as vice president of business development and strategy. Hart is responsible for developing new business acquisitions, managing strategic asset divestitures.

Prior to joining AEP, Hart was senior vice president and CFO of Utilicorp United in Kansas City, Mo. Hart joined Enron Capital and Trade Resources Corp., Houston, in 1991 and became vice president and controller-integrated services in 1996.

Hart earned his bachelor´s degree in business administration - accounting from Texas A&M University.

Edward D. Gottlob, 41, has been promoted to vice president of AEP´s Houston Pipe Line Company subsidiary. Gottlob previously served as director of gas marketing/trading for HPL. Gottlob came to AEP from HPL/Enron where he served in a variety of trading and marketing capacities since 1987. He played an instrumental role in helping AEP integrate HPL into the AEP asset portfolio and retains responsibility for optimizing the commercial performance of the HPL System.

Gottlob holds a bachelor’s of science degree in accounting from the University of Houston.

American Electric Power is a multinational energy company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP owns and operates more than 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity, making it America’s largest generator of electricity. The company is also a leading wholesale energy marketer and trader, ranking second in the U.S. in electricity volume with a growing presence in natural gas. AEP provides retail electricity to more than 7 million customers worldwide and has holdings in the U.S. and select international markets. Wholly owned subsidiaries are involved in power engineering and construction services, energy management and telecommunications.