COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 25, 2006 – Ralph D. Crosby Jr., chairman and chief executive officer of EADS North America, has been elected to American Electric Power´s (NYSE: AEP) board of directors, according to Michael G. Morris, AEP´s chairman, president and chief executive officer.

With the election of Crosby, AEP´s board now consists of 13 members, 12 of whom are outside directors. Morris is the only inside director.

“Ralph Crosby has successfully led large companies in a capital intensive, highly regulated manufacturing industry that has many similarities to AEP’s business,” Morris said. “His experience and the insights he can provide make him a valuable addition to our board of directors.”

Crosby, 58, was named chairman and chief executive officer of EADS North America in 2002. EADS North America is the U.S. holding company for the North American activities of EADS, the world’s second largest aerospace and defense company. Crosby moved to EADS from Northrop Grumman Corporation, where he was president of the Integrated Systems Sector. Prior to that, Crosby had been corporate vice president and general manager of Northrop Grumman’s Commercial Aircraft Division and corporate vice president and general manager of the B-2 Division. Crosby joined Northrop Grumman in 1981 after serving 12 years in the United States Army.

Crosby earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering in 1969 from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. He earned a master’s degree in international relations in 1976 from the University of Geneva in Switzerland and a master’s degree in public administration in 1977 from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

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 is the nation’s largest generator of electricity, owning more than 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, which includes nearly 39,000 miles of transmission lines. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2006.