AEP Recognized as LGBT-Friendly Employer by Human Rights Campaign Foundation

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Dec 09, 2013, 02:12 ET

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Dec. 9, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has been recognized for its commitment to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workplace equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. AEP received a score of 80 out of 100 on the Foundation's 2014 Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies, benefits and practices for members of the LGBT community.

"AEP is dedicated to supporting its LGBT community and is honored to have earned an 80 on the 2014 Corporate Equality Index," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP president and chief executive officer. "We are committed to fostering a workplace in which we respect one another and embrace our differences so that all employees can find their work rewarding and bring their best to their respective jobs."

The 2014 CEI rated a total of 734 businesses in the report, which evaluates LGBT-related policies and practices including non-discrimination workplace protections, domestic partner benefits, transgender-inclusive health care benefits, competency programs, and public engagement with the LGBT community.

AEP supports its LGBT employees by offering benefits to same-sex couples and families. AEP also provides families with adoption assistance, reimbursing employees up to $3,000 per child for eligible adoption-related expenses and providing up to 40 hours of paid leave for new adoptive parents. In addition, AEP's Pride Partnership facilitates networking and mentoring for LGBT employees, contractors and their allies. The Pride Partnership also collaborates with the broader LGBT community and supports community initiatives and activities.

The Human Rights Campaign Foundation is the educational arm of America's largest civil rights organization working to achieve lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5.3 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 40,000-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.