AEP Recognized as a Top Company for Executive Women

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Mar 02, 2010, 09:00 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has been named one of the top 50 companies for executive women by the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE). The list recognizes organizations whose programs and policies support women's advancement and who have significant female representation in senior management and on boards of directors.

"AEP has come a long way in attracting and retaining talented women at all levels of the company," said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are honored to be recognized by NAFE for the important roles women play as members of our executive team and as contributors to our company's success."

Eleven percent of corporate officers and 15 percent of board members at America's largest companies are women, according to NAFE. At AEP, women hold 17 percent of senior leadership positions and make up 23 percent of the board of directors.

This is the second time AEP has been named to NAFE's list of top companies for women executives. NAFE is affiliated with Working Mother magazine, which also has recognized AEP as one of the best companies for women of color in 2006; one of the best companies for multicultural women in 2007 and 2009; and one of the 100 best companies for working mothers in 2002, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

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.