COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 6, 2005 – ESSENCE recognizes American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) in its May edition as one of 35 “great places to work” for women and people of color.

This is the third consecutive year that the magazine has honored AEP, the only company based in central Ohio to be recognized this year. AEP has approximately 20,000 employees.

The ESSENCE list was based on a survey of 130 U.S. corporations that addressed commitment to diversity, career advancement opportunities, community support and involvement, work/life balance and representation in the work force. Novations Group Inc. of Boston conducted the survey for ESSENCE.

AEP is singled out for its strong support of community-based programs that assist minorities. The ESSENCE article notes that AEP has provided $80,000 in scholarships to graduates of inner-city high schools in Columbus through the EXCEL (Excellence through Cultural Education and Leadership) program, and it refers to the company’s support of the Dallas (Texas) Black Chamber of Commerce and the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Dallas.

“We appreciate this recognition, and we believe programs that attract a diverse work force benefit all of our employees,” said Mary Cofer, director – personnel services and EEO. “There’s always room for improvement, however, and we monitor our diversity and work/life offerings continuously with that goal in mind.”

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.