AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 16, 2004 - Charles Patton, vice president of governmental affairs for American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), has been named Texas state president for American Electric Power, effective immediately.

Patton will fill a vacancy left by Texas State President Julio Reyes who has been named AEP´s Oklahoma state president. Reyes will fill the position previously held by Pete Churchwell, who recently announced his retirement.

"Charles Patton has done an incredible job of directing state governmental affairs activities for AEP in Texas," said Dale Heydlauff, AEP senior vice president - governmental and environmental affairs. "His understanding of the policy processes, as well as his strong background in the electric utility industry, has made him a vital information source for policymakers and other stakeholders throughout Texas. These skills are just a few of the reasons that he will make an extremely effective state president."

Patton has been responsible for Texas governmental affairs functions since 1996 when he joined Central and South West Inc. CSW merged with AEP in June 2000. Prior to joining CSW, Patton spent nearly 11 years in the energy and telecommunications business with Houston Industries/Houston Lighting & Power. While there, he worked in regulatory affairs and assisted in the litigation and management of regulatory proceedings. He was a policy specialist in government affairs and a lobbyist in Texas and Washington, D.C.

During this time, Patton also served as a company liaison with the United States Energy Association and traveled internationally to discuss government affairs and public relations with Eastern European utilities.

In 1999, he was appointed by former Texas Governor George Bush to serve on the Texas Energy Coordination Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, where he has since been reappointed by Governor Rick Perry.

Earlier this month, Governor Perry appointed Patton to the Texas Energy Planning Council, which was established to advise the governor on a balanced plan for providing the energy needed to fuel the state’s future economic growth.

Patton received a bachelor´s degree (cum laude) from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, and a master´s degree from the LBJ School of Public Policy at the University of Texas in Austin. He completed, with honors, special undergraduate programs relating to urban planning and government at Boston University, Harvard and American University.

Julio Reyes has served as AEP Texas state president since 2001. He will assume the post as the new Oklahoma state president immediately.

"Julio’s ability to establish close relationships with various groups throughout AEP´s Texas service territory has been crucial to our continued success," Heydlauff said. "He has represented the company with distinction and will now dedicate his considerable talents to effectively managing our external affairs activities in the State of Oklahoma."

During his 30 years in the electric utility industry, Reyes has held a variety of positions in the former Central Power and Light Company (CPL) Pharr Operations/Design Engineering Department and CPL´s McAllen Marketing Department, as well as being an area business manager in Eagle Pass and in Brownsville. He also served as regional sales manager for Public Service Company of Oklahoma while based in Tulsa, and division manager for CPL´s Southern Division in the Rio Grande Valley.

Reyes has spent much of his time with the utility industry representing CPL in local community organizations and assisting in local/state economic development projects, including the Texas Association of Businesses, the Texas Taxpayers and Research Association, the Governor´s Market Texas Advisory Committee, the Texas Water Foundation and is the honorary chairman for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. He also has served on the Rio Grande Boy Scout Council Board, the Rio Grande Partnership Board, the Texas State Technical College Foundation Board (past member) and as vice president of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce Board.

Reyes attended the University of Texas/Pan American and the University of Texas/Brownsville and holds a bachelor of business administration degree in management.

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.