COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 15, 2011 – American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) has been named one of the “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” for the seventh time in 10 years by Working Mother magazine, a national publication targeting career-committed mothers.

AEP is the only central Ohio-based company and the only electric utility on the list, which appears in the magazine’s October edition.

The companies were chosen based on a 650-question survey addressing work schedule flexibility, work leave policies, child care, advancement of women, compensation and other work/life issues.

“It is part of AEP’s culture to support our employees with family-friendly benefits and programs to help them balance their careers and home lives,” said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman and chief executive officer. “We are honored to again be recognized as one of the top companies for working mothers.”

Honored companies will be formally recognized during the annual Working Mother 100 Best Companies WorkLife Congress in New York Oct. 18-20.

AEP received the same recognition in 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004 and 2002. Working Mother also selected AEP as one of the best companies for multicultural women for five straight years. In 2011, 2010 and 2007, AEP was recognized as one of the top 50 companies for executive women by the National Association for Female Executives, which is affiliated with Working Mother.

More information about Working Mother, including the list of the 100 best companies, is available at www.workingmother.com.

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.