COLUMBUS, OH, March 5, 2008 - - David Celona has been named vice president -external affairs for AEP Ohio effective March 10.

In this new capacity, Celona’s areas of responsibility will include public policy matters, community and governmental affairs, as well as building and maintaining external relationships with legislators, consumer groups and other stakeholders who have an  interest in the company’s operations.  The vice president of external affairs also oversees an important community involvement role, including corporate giving activities.

“AEP Ohio is very pleased to have Dave join our leadership team,” said Joe Hamrock, president and chief operating officer.  “Dave brings energy-related legislative and regulatory experience, as well as substantial experience within Ohio government.  His knowledge and leadership will be a great asset to our organization.”

Celona most recently served as vice president – Ohio/Kentucky government and regulatory affairs with Duke Energy Corporation.  He earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Notre Dame, a master of arts degree in political science from Ohio University and a MBA from The Ohio State University.

Currently, Celona serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Electric Utility Institute, Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Children’s Hunger Alliance and is a member of the Ohio University Public Policy Committee.

AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP subsidiaries Columbus Southern Power Company and Ohio Power Company in Ohio, and Wheeling Power Company in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power.

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.