SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K


                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)  February 22, 2005
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                      AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
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            (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                    New York
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                (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

         1-3525                                           13-4922640
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(Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, OH                            43215
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                 (Zip Code)

                                  614-716-1000
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             (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)


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        (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)


      Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
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[ ]   Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act
      (17 CFR 230.425)

[ ]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17
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      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))





Item 5.02.  Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors;
            Appointment of Principal Officers

      Leonard J. Kujawa has served as a member of the AEP board of directors
since 1997. AEP has a policy that a director is ineligible for reelection after
reaching the age of 72. Accordingly, in accordance with that policy, Mr.
Kujawa's term of service as a director will expire at AEP's 2005 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders on April 26, 2005, and he will not be nominated for reelection .


                                   SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                              AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.


                              By: /s/ Thomas G. Berkemeyer
                              Name: Thomas G. Berkemeyer
                              Title: Assistant Secretary


February 22, 2005