COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 28, 2008 – For the third consecutive year, American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) is on Working Mother magazine’s list of the 20 “best companies for multicultural women.” The list appears in the June edition of the national publication, which targets career-committed mothers.

AEP is the only electric utility, and the only company based in central Ohio, to be honored.

“We take great pride in being selected for this recognition again by such a respected publication,” said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “We strive to provide a rewarding work environment for all AEP employees.”

The honored companies were chosen based on 2007 data about hiring, compensation and promotion of multicultural employees and information about workplace culture, diversity activities and work/life programs. AEP’s highest scores were in the areas of workplace culture and external programs and outreach efforts related to diversity.

“The utility industry is predominantly male, and many of our facilities are in remote rural areas with small minority populations,” said Mary Cofer, AEP director of diversity and culture. “That is why we go the extra mile to reach out to diverse groups of employment candidates.”

Honorees will be formally recognized at the Multicultural Women’s National Conference sponsored by Working Mother Media in New York City July 22-23.

Working Mother has honored AEP on several occasions in recent years. AEP was named one of the 100 best companies for working mothers in 2002, 2004 and 2007. Also in 2007, AEP was selected as one of the top 30 companies for women executives by the National Association for Female Executives, which is affiliated with Working Mother Media.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765-kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s transmission system directly or indirectly serves about 10 percent of the electricity demand in the Eastern Interconnection, the interconnected transmission system that covers 38 eastern and central U.S. states and eastern Canada, and approximately 11 percent of the electricity demand in ERCOT, the transmission system that covers much of Texas. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.