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          <ccc>XXXXXXXX</ccc>
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      <liveTestFlag>LIVE</liveTestFlag>



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      <issuerName>AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC</issuerName>
      <secFileNumber>001-03525</secFileNumber>
      <issuerAddress>
        <com:street1>1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA</com:street1>
        <com:city>COLUMBUS</com:city>
        <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
        <com:zipCode>43215</com:zipCode>
      </issuerAddress>
      <issuerContactPhone>614-716-1000</issuerContactPhone>
      <nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>Akins Nicholas K</nameOfPersonForWhoseAccountTheSecuritiesAreToBeSold>
      <relationshipsToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Officer</relationshipToIssuer>
        <relationshipToIssuer>Director</relationshipToIssuer>
      </relationshipsToIssuer>
    </issuerInfo>
    <securitiesInformation>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
        <name>Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>900 Salem Street</com:street1>
          <com:city>Smithfield</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>RI</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>02917</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </brokerOrMarketmakerDetails>
      <noOfUnitsSold>10491</noOfUnitsSold>
      <aggregateMarketValue>973040.25</aggregateMarketValue>
      <noOfUnitsOutstanding>513866081</noOfUnitsOutstanding>
      <approxSaleDate>05/02/2023</approxSaleDate>
      <securitiesExchangeName>NASDAQ</securitiesExchangeName>
    </securitiesInformation>
    <securitiesToBeSold>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <acquiredDate>05/01/2023</acquiredDate>
      <natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>Restricted Stock Vesting</natureOfAcquisitionTransaction>
      <nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>Issuer</nameOfPersonfromWhomAcquired>
      <isGiftTransaction>N</isGiftTransaction>
      <amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>10491</amountOfSecuritiesAcquired>
      <paymentDate>05/01/2023</paymentDate>
      <natureOfPayment>Compensation</natureOfPayment>
    </securitiesToBeSold>
    <nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>N</nothingToReportFlagOnSecuritiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Nicholas Akins</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Riverside Plaza</com:street1>
          <com:city>Columbus</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>43215-2373</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/22/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>6977</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>630651.03</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
      <sellerDetails>
        <name>Nicholas Akins</name>
        <address>
          <com:street1>1 Riverside Plaza</com:street1>
          <com:city>Columbus</com:city>
          <com:stateOrCountry>OH</com:stateOrCountry>
          <com:zipCode>43215-2373</com:zipCode>
        </address>
      </sellerDetails>
      <securitiesClassTitle>Common</securitiesClassTitle>
      <saleDate>02/24/2023</saleDate>
      <amountOfSecuritiesSold>51034</amountOfSecuritiesSold>
      <grossProceeds>4564480.96</grossProceeds>
    </securitiesSoldInPast3Months>
    <noticeSignature>
      <noticeDate>05/02/2023</noticeDate>
      <planAdoptionDates>
        <planAdoptionDate>08/22/2022</planAdoptionDate>
      </planAdoptionDates>
      <signature>/s/ Carli McPherson, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Nicholas Akins</signature>
    </noticeSignature>
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144
0001373601
XXXXXXXX
LIVE
0000004904
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC
001-03525
1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA
COLUMBUS
OH
43215
614-716-1000
Akins Nicholas K
Officer
Director
Common
Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC
900 Salem Street
Smithfield
RI
02917
10491
973040.25
513866081
05/02/2023
NASDAQ
Common
05/01/2023
Restricted Stock Vesting
Issuer
N
10491
05/01/2023
Compensation
N
Nicholas Akins
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus
OH
43215-2373
Common
02/22/2023
6977
630651.03
Nicholas Akins
1 Riverside Plaza
Columbus
OH
43215-2373
Common
02/24/2023
51034
4564480.96
05/02/2023
08/22/2022
/s/ Carli McPherson, as a duly authorized representative of Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, as attorney-in-fact for Nicholas Akins