COLUMBUS, Ohio, March 23, 2005 - The training programs that American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) requires of its line employees have been offered to outside organizations for several years. Now, the external outreach is ramping up with the launch of a Web site, www.AEPLineTraining.com.

"We have many inquiries into our line training programs, and we have relied on word of mouth to market them," said Mike Lewis, AEP’s supervisor - training development for Energy Distribution. "We felt the next step was to take advantage of the Internet to provide information about our services and capabilities to a larger audience."

The new site highlights AEP training programs in energy distribution, energy transmission, station, and protection and control at the apprentice and journeyman levels. The site provides a single point of contact for coordinating outside training inquiries.

More than 75 outside personnel typically have enrolled in AEP’s line training programs each year. AEP has the resources to expand that number, said Lewis, noting that more than 1,500 AEP distribution line mechanic apprentices completed training last year.

Much of the outside training has been for employees of rural electric cooperatives and municipal utilities, Lewis said. In addition to those personnel, he said, others who would benefit from the training include electrical contractors, subdivision developers and large utility users who may own their own electrical equipment.

The Web site lists the locations of AEP’s line training facilities, but AEP also can take some of its training programs on the road.

"We can box up our energy distribution training program for journeymen and take it to where it’s needed," Lewis said. "We also can customize programs to fit specific needs."

Longtime, journeyman-level employees serve as guest instructors while working alongside full-time staff instructors.

American Electric Power owns more than 36,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the United States and is the nation’s largest electricity generator. AEP is also one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, with more than 5 million customers linked to AEP’s 11-state electricity transmission and distribution grid. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio.