COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 14, 2011 – The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) commissioners today approved with modifications AEP Ohio’s Electric Security Plan (ESP) for the period 2012 through May of 2016. The ESP submitted to the commissioners on Sept. 7 represented a settlement agreement with a majority of parties involved in several cases that were pending before the commission. AEP Ohio is a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP).

“While we recognize the PUCO largely retained the framework of the settlement, we are deeply concerned that the commission chose to modify a carefully balanced agreement that reflected significant compromises by an unprecedented number of stakeholders,” said Joe Hamrock, AEP Ohio president and chief operating officer. “At this time, we will need to consider the ramifications of the changes and determine our next steps.”

The agreement gives AEP Ohio the authority to merge its two operating companies, Columbus Southern Power (CSP) and Ohio Power (OPCo), into one company. In a separate opinion and order, the commission also approved the company’s distribution rate case settlement.

          AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP subsidiaries Columbus Southern Power Company and Ohio Power Company in Ohio, and Wheeling Power Company in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at www.aepohio.com.
          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 and north Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. News releases and other information about AEP can be found at www.aep.com.
 
 
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