AEP Names Joe Jensen to Lead Cook Nuclear

COLUMBUS, Ohio, Jan. 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Joseph N. (Joe) Jensen has been named senior vice president and chief nuclear officer of American
Electric Power’s (NYSE: AEP) D.C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Mich.,
effective Jan. 26. Jensen has been a vice president at Cook since 2003, most
recently with responsibilities for design and plant engineering, technical
projects and support services. Cook is a dual-unit nuclear site with a total
generating capacity of 2,150 megawatts.

Jensen is replacing Mike Rencheck, who has been named president and CEO of
AREVA NP Inc. in Lynchburg, Va.

“Joe has an extensive background in nuclear plant operations and
management, both at Cook and at other plants, and is well-prepared to
successfully lead the Cook team,” said Nick Akins, AEP’s executive vice
president — Generation. “Joe’s ability to seamlessly assume the
responsibilities of chief nuclear officer at Cook is evidence of the
succession planning and talent development program at the plant. Joe has
demonstrated a strong commitment to safety and plant reliability and has
existing relationships with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the
Institute of Nuclear Power Operations. I have every confidence that he will
bring Unit 1 back to service in the time frame that we previously announced
and continue our record of operational excellence at Cook.

“At the same time, we will miss Mike’s many contributions to AEP and wish
him the very best at AREVA. Under Mike’s leadership, Cook performed as one of
the nation’s top nuclear plants. I’m sure AREVA will benefit from the
leadership excellence that Mike has demonstrated throughout his time at AEP,”
Akins said.

Jensen will report to Akins. Raymond A. (Ray) Hruby Jr. has been named
vice president — Site Support Services at Cook, replacing and reporting to
Jensen.

AEP’s Cook Unit 1 has been out of service since Sept. 20, 2008, after
severe turbine vibrations, caused by broken low-pressure turbine blades,
damaged the main turbine and generator. The expected return-to-service
timeline ranges from the second half of 2009, if rotor repair is successful,
to 2010 if the rotors must be replaced before operation.

Jensen, 50, joined AEP in 2003. He served as site vice president at Cook
from October 2003 to January 2008, when he was named vice president — Site
Support Services. Before joining AEP, Jensen was plant manager at the Point
Beach Nuclear Plant in Two Rivers, Wis. He also worked for 15 years at the
Prairie Island Nuclear Generation Station in Welch, Minn., where he held
positions as engineering director, production planning manager and training
manager. Additionally, he worked as the project manager for Northern States
Power Co.’s high-level waste initiatives.

Jensen has a bachelor of science degree in business management from
Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee. He completed the Executive
Development Program at the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of
Management and is a licensed senior reactor operator.

Hruby, 49, joined AEP in March 2008 as director — Major Projects, at
Cook. Before joining AEP, Hruby worked for 26 years in nuclear plants owned by
FirstEnergy Corp. and Duquesne Light Co., including holding management
positions in engineering, project management, operations, oversight and
regulatory compliance. Hruby has a bachelor of science degree in nuclear
engineering from The Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pa.,
and is a licensed senior reactor operator.

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.

SOURCE American Electric Power