The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) a 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. PSO’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2012, which marks the 20^{th anniversary of ENERGY STAR.}

^{PSO, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2008, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. Specifically, PSO has been a leader in the promotion of ENERGY STAR New Homes, with more than 1,500 ENERGY STAR qualified homes built through the program over the past four years.}

^{Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future through participation in ENERGY STAR.}

^{Over the past 20 years, American families and businesses have saved nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from more than 350 million vehicles with help from ENERGY STAR.}

^{"PSO is committed to partnering with ENERGY STAR in our efforts to increase energy efficiency in homes across our service area, which helps customers spend less on utility bills while also protecting the environment and reducing greenhouse gas emissions," said Eric Raines, Consumer Programs manager for PSO.}

^{The 2012 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners}

^{have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from about 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.}

^{"As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program, EPA is proud to recognize PSO with the 2012 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "PSO and all our ENERGY STAR award winners are helping Americans find cost-effective ways to save energy in everything we do, which is good for our climate, our health, and our future."}

^{About PSO}

^{PSO, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), is an electric utility company serving more than 530,000 customers in eastern and southwestern Oklahoma. With headquarters in Tulsa, PSO has 4,321 megawatts of generating capacity and provides electricity to 230 cities and towns across a service area encompassing 30,000 square miles. News releases and other information about PSO can be found on the World Wide Web at www.PSOklahoma.com.}

^{About ENERGY STAR}

^{ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. About 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).}