COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 27, 2003 - American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) announced today that it has priced its offering of 50 million shares of common stock at a public offering price of $20.95 per share. AEP has granted the underwriters an option to purchase an additional 7.5 million shares of common stock to cover overallotments.

The common stock is expected to be issued next week.

The net proceeds from the sale of these securities will be used to reduce debt and for general corporate purposes.

The joint book-running managers for the offering were J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc.

American Electric Power owns and operates more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States and select international markets and is the largest electricity generator in the U.S. AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with almost 5 million customers linked to AEP’s 11-state electricity transmission and distribution grid. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.

A shelf registration statement related to this offering has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The offering may be made only by means of a prospectus and a related prospectus supplement, copies of which may be obtained when available from J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., at 277 Park Ave., New York, NY, or Salomon Smith Barney Inc., at 388 Greenwich Ave., New York, NY.

The comments set forth above include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including (1) statements concerning the Company´s plans, objectives, expected performance and expenditures and (2) other statements that are other than statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements reflect assumptions, and involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking statements are electric load and customer growth, abnormal weather conditions, availability of generating capacity, the ability to recover net regulatory assets and other stranded costs in connection with deregulation of generation, the outcome of environmental regulation and litigation, the impact of fluctuation in commodity prices and interest rates, and other risks and unforeseen events over which the Company has no control. The reader is also directed to the Company´s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission for additional factors that may impact the Company´s results of operations and financial condition. Furthermore, historical results may not be indicative of the Company´s future performance.