GAHANNA, Ohio, May 20, 2014 – AEP Ohio residential customers now have the option of obtaining additional protection on critical electric equipment, thanks to a new home warranty program now being offered by the company.

          AEP Ohio, a unit of American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP), in partnership with HomeServe USA Corp (HomeServe), a third-party home repair service provider, is offering the Exterior Electric Line service plan for repair of overhead and underground electric equipment not typically covered by homeowner’s insurance.

          This equipment includes the weatherhead, service entrance cable, riser pipe, meter base and meter box.

          “Customers often are not aware of their responsibility to repair the service entrance equipment, or the point where power lines attach to their home, until it is too late,” said Karen Sloneker, AEP Ohio’s director of customer services and marketing. “Should this equipment be damaged, repairs can cost hundreds of dollars and normally are not covered by basic homeowner’s insurance. We are pleased to be able to offer our customers this optional program that can help them protect themselves in case of an emergency.”

          Residential customers will be able to get up to $3,000 in coverage annually with the Exterior Electric Line service plan and choose from a menu of other service plans, including coverage for interior electrical lines, HVAC systems, and water and sewer/septic systems. (For a full list of service plans visit AEPOhio.com/HomeWarranty.) Most plans are in the $5.00-$11.00 price point per month. Customers will have access to a 24-hour repair hotline and repairs will be performed by local, certified technicians. Costs will be added to the customer’s monthly electric bill, and customers may cancel warranty coverage at any time.

          HomeServe, established in the U.S. in 2003, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of HomeServe Plc, which has provided home emergency assistance programs for households for over 20 years.

          For more information on the warranty program, visit AEPOhio.com/HomeWarranty.

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          AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP subsidiaries Ohio Power Company in Ohio. AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio, and is a unit of American Electric Power. News and information about AEP Ohio can be found at AEPOhio.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 40,000-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 and north Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio. News releases and other information about AEP can be found at AEP.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

AEP Ohio: 1-866-641-1151

aepohiomediarelations@aep.com