COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 15, 2004 - Andrew Patterson and William D’Onofrio have accepted new responsibilities with American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), the company announced today.

Patterson has been named senior vice president - corporate development reporting to Susan Tomasky, AEP executive vice president and chief financial officer. D´Onofrio has been named vice president - utility business services for AEP Utilities reporting to Carl English, president of AEP Utilities. Both positions are effective immediately.

In his new position, Patterson will assist Tomasky and her team with assessing fundamental decisions about AEP’s business portfolio and options for altering AEP’s business model. He also will work to translate key strategic decisions into priorities, objectives and actions.

“Andy’s depth of utility and consulting experience will be critical as we determine and refine our business strategy. He will play a crucial role in helping us analyze AEP’s options going forward and for ensuring that the business strategies we select are successfully implemented,” said Tomasky.

D´Onofrio will assist AEP Utilities with strategy and business planning. He will oversee the capital and operations and maintenance budgeting processes for AEP Utilities and the unit’s Associated Business Development activities, which provide a variety of commercial energy-related services.

“Bill’s financial background and broad utility experience will help AEP Utilities continue its strong contribution to AEP’s bottom line. Bill’s main responsibilities will involve ensuring that we maximize our investments, watch our costs, and take advantage of opportunities to contribute additional revenue to the corporation through the commercial services we can provide for other companies,” said English.

Patterson had served as AEP’s senior vice president - planning and business development since November 2002. He previously was senior vice president - retail mass markets and led AEP´s marketing efforts aimed at open access customers in Virginia, Ohio and Texas. Prior to that, Patterson was vice president - strategic analysis, where his primary focus was to provide oversight for a wide variety of strategy efforts, investment opportunities and new business ventures across the AEP portfolio of companies.

Before joining AEP in 2000, Patterson spent 15 years as a general management consultant, initially as a principal with Towers Perrin’s General Management Consulting Division and later as a vice president with Mercer Management Consulting’s Utility Team.

Patterson earned a bachelor’s degree in industrial administration from General Motors Institute in Flint, Mich. He graduated with a master’s in business administration from the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business.

D´Onofrio had served as AEP’s vice president - shared services strategy since February 2000 and was responsible for strategic planning, benchmarking and budgeting for the Shared Services support organization. He was previously vice president - regulatory policy.

He began his career with AEP in 1972 as an administrative assistant for the treasury staff. He later was AEP´s director - treasury staff and assistant treasurer of AEP and its subsidiaries. He also served as director - Northern distribution regions, and vice president -regulatory services. Additionally, D’Onofrio was vice president - administration and vice president - operations at Indiana Michigan Power, an AEP subsidiary.

D´Onofrio, a certified public accountant, began his career in 1969 as an accountant at Price Waterhouse. He received a bachelor´s degree in accounting and a master´s in controllership St. John´s University. He completed The Executive Program from the Darden Graduate School of Business at the University of Virginia.

American Electric Power owns more than 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States and is the nation´s largest electricity generator. AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with more than 5 million customers linked to AEP’s 11-state electricity transmission and distribution grid. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.