-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 IxZFQ4bChsetVumXf3gS3HgIm5uEz9D8PNyux/P15oSOWwvpu7Vb3RoItXEGdcbu
 30bH41mqw3FPyPjq22rkUA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000004904-03-000232.txt : 20030603
<SEC-HEADER>0000004904-03-000232.hdr.sgml : 20030603
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030603125208
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000004904-03-000232
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030602
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030603

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000004904
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC SERVICES [4911]
		IRS NUMBER:				134922640
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 RIVERSIDE PLZ
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43215
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6142231000

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KINGSPORT UTILITIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19660906

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOWELL WILLIAM R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174480

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03525
		FILM NUMBER:		03729670

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PFIZER INC
		STREET 2:		235 EAST 42ND ST ATTN: CORPORATE SEC
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127334802
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004904</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174480</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOWELL WILLIAM R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1200</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle
><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>1200</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6377</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquisition pursuant to the AEP Stock Unit Accumulation Plan Plan for Non-Employee Directors.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">Stock Units are paid to the director in cash upon termination of service unless the director has elected to defer payment for a period that results in payment commencing not later than five years thereafter.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kevin R. Fease, Attorney-in-Fact for William R. Howell</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-03</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocumen
t>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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