COLUMBUS, Ohio, Sept. 19, 2003 - American Electric Power Co., Inc., today announced that AEP Texas North Co. (the “Issuer”) has extended the expiration date of its offer to exchange all of its outstanding 5.50% Senior Notes, Series A due 2013 (the “Outstanding Notes”) for the Issuer’s 5.50% Senior Notes, Series B due 2013 (the “Exchange Notes”), which has been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

As a result of the extension, the exchange offer is now scheduled to expire at 5 p.m., New York City time, on Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, unless further extended.

The exchange offer was originally set to expire at 5 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003. As of 5 p.m., New York City time, on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003, $223,025,000 aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes (more than 99 percent) had been tendered for exchange.

Except for the extension of the expiration date, all of the other terms of the exchange offer remain as set forth in the exchange offer prospectus. This news release is not an offer to exchange Exchange Notes for Outstanding Notes or the solicitation of an offer to exchange, which we are making only through the exchange offer prospectus.

Requests for information and copies of the exchange offer prospectus and related documents may be obtained from Bank One, N.A., as exchange agent for the exchange offer, at the following addresses and telephone/fax numbers:

AEP Texas North Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of American Electric Power Co., Inc. (NYSE: AEP) and formerly known as West Texas Utilities Co., is engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity in the western and central portion of Texas.