COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 24, 2004 - The board of directors of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) today elected Michael G. Morris chairman of the board. Morris is AEP´s president and chief executive officer.

Morris, 57, joined AEP as president and CEO on Jan. 1 following the resignation of former president and CEO E. Linn Draper Jr. Morris´ election as chairman follows Draper´s resignation from that position today. Draper had announced in April 2003 that he planned to retire on or before AEP´s 2004 annual meeting, scheduled for April 27.

Prior to joining AEP, Morris was chairman, president and chief executive officer of Northeast Utilities System.

"On behalf of the shareholders, customers and employees of AEP I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Linn for his years of dedicated leadership," Morris said. "I´m especially grateful for his help in making my move to AEP a very easy one."

"Mike has stepped into his new duties and made a very smooth transition," Draper said. "It is the appropriate time for me to step down and give Mike full leadership of the company."

Draper will remain in an advisory capacity with AEP through April.

American Electric Power owns and operates more than 42,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States and select international markets and is the largest electricity generator in the U.S. AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with almost 5 million customers linked to AEP’s 11-state electricity transmission and distribution grid. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.