COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 17, 2007 – Michael Rencheck has been named senior vice president and chief nuclear officer for American Electric Power’s (NYSE: AEP) D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Mich., effective Nov. 1. He has been AEP’s senior vice president – Engineering, Projects and Field Services since January 2006.

Rencheck replaces Mano Nazar, who has taken a position at Florida Power and Light. Nazar has run Cook since October 2003.

“We are fortunate to have an internal leader, Mike Rencheck, who is well prepared to take on the top leadership role at Cook,” said Nick Akins, AEP’s executive vice president – Generation. “Mike has an extensive background in the nuclear industry as well as hands-on experience at Cook. In addition, he has existing relationships with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. Most importantly, Mike has demonstrated an unwavering focus on public and employee safety and plant reliability. I have every confidence that he will continue AEP’s commitment to nuclear operational excellence at Cook.”

“We wish Mano much success in his new position at Florida Power and Light. In his more than four years at AEP, Mano’s leadership has made Cook one of the nation’s top-performing nuclear plants, including setting plant records for performance and safety,” Akins said.

Rencheck will report to Akins. Rencheck’s replacement will be named later.

Rencheck, 46, joined AEP in 1998 as vice president – Nuclear Engineering at Cook. He was named vice president – Strategic Business Improvement at Cook in 2001 and then left the plant to serve as senior vice president – Engineering and Region Operations for AEP Pro Serv. Rencheck was named president of AEP Pro Serv in November 2002. He became senior vice president – Engineering, Technical and Environmental Services for AEP in 2003 and was named senior vice president – Engineering, Projects and Field Services in January 2006.

Before joining AEP, Rencheck worked as director – Nuclear Engineering and Projects at Florida Power Corp.’s Crystal River Nuclear Station. He also worked as director – System Engineering and manager of system engineering for Public Service Electric & Gas Co. and held various technical and management positions at Duquesne Light Co.

Rencheck has a master’s degree in management and computer information systems from Robert Morris College in Coraopolis, Pa., and a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Ohio Northern University in Ada, Ohio. He is a professional engineer in the states of Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia and is a certified senior reactor operator.

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 more than 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.