AEP Honored as Military-Friendly Employer for Ninth Straight Year

News provided by

Nov 14, 2011, 11:32 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- G.I. Jobs magazine has named American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) one of the nation's top 100 "military-friendly" employers for the ninth consecutive year.

AEP is one of only five companies that the publication has honored each year since the recognition program began in 2003.

This year's honorees were selected from among more than 5,000 employers with annual revenues of at least $500 million. The December 2011 edition of G.I. Jobs, which features the list of military-friendly employers, can be accessed at www.GIJobs.com.

"AEP prides itself on hiring and supporting military veterans, who tend to have the technical skill sets and personal characteristics that make them a good fit for careers with our company," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP president and chief executive officer. "We are honored to receive this recognition from G.I. Jobs for the ninth year in a row."

The honored companies were selected based on their assets dedicated to military hiring, the percentage of new hires who are veterans and policies regarding National Guard and reserve service, among other criteria.

Approximately 1,800 of AEP's roughly 18,600 employees have served in the military. AEP's military leave policy provides pay differential and benefits for up to two years for reservists and National Guard members who are called to active duty in emergency situations. The company's family military leave policy allows employees to take up to 10 days of leave to spend time with a family member who has been called to or returned from active duty.

G.I. Jobs helps provide training and career opportunities for veterans and those in transition from military to civilian employment.

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 Texas). AEP's headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.