COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 1, 1998 -- Robert P. Powers has been named senior vice president - nuclear generation for American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), according to E. Linn Draper Jr., AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. Powers, 44, is currently vice president and plant manager, Diablo Canyon Nuclear Generating Station for Pacific Gas & Electric Co. He will join AEP July 31 and will report to Draper. Powers replaces Eugene E. Fitzpatrick, who retired May 1. "Bob has been involved in the Diablo Canyon operations since the two units went commercial in 1985 and 1986," Draper said. "Since Bob became vice president at Diablo Canyon in 1996, it has been among the nation's best performing nuclear plants. We're pleased that Bob will join AEP and lead our nuclear program." AEP has one nuclear plant -- the two-unit, 2,110-megawatt Donald C. Cook nuclear plant in Bridgman, Mich. Powers joined Pacific Gas & Electric in 1982 as radiation protection engineer in San Francisco. He became senior engineer, radiation protection at Diablo Canyon in 1984; radiation protection manager in 1987; senior reactor operator certification, Diablo Canyon in 1991; director, mechanical maintenance, Diablo Canyon in 1991; manager, site services, Diablo Canyon in 1992; manager, quality services, Diablo Canyon in 1993; and manager, operations services, Diablo Canyon in 1996. He became vice president for Diablo Canyon in July 1996. He earned a bachelor's degree in biology in 1975 from Tufts University in Boston and earned a master's degree in radiological hygiene in 1976 from the University of North Carolina. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.