Ownership Submission
FORM 3
 UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940
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(Print or Type Responses)
1. Name and Address of Reporting Person *
  Welch Dennis E
 2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year)
01/25/2012		 3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC [AEP]
(Last)
(First)
(Middle)
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER, 1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA		 4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer
(Check all applicable)
_____ Director _____ 10% Owner
__X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below)
Executive Vice President
 5. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year)
(Street)

COLUMBUS, OH 43215		 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line)
_X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person
___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person
(City)
(State)
(Zip)
Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1.Title of Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned
(Instr. 4)		 3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Common Stock 9,260.97
D
 

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly. SEC 1473 (7-02)
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Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date
(Month/Day/Year)		 3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security
(Instr. 4)		 4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security 5. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I)
(Instr. 5)		 6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership
(Instr. 5)
Date Exercisable Expiration Date Title Amount or Number of Shares
Restricted Stock Units   (1)   (1) Common Stock 31,798.16 $ (3) D  
Restricted Stock Units   (2)   (2) Common Stock 8,896 $ (3) D  
Career Shares (Phantom Stock) (4)   (4)   (4) Common Stock 29,900 $ 0 D  
AEP Stock Options   (5) 09/15/2015 Common Stock 10,000 $ 38.65 D  

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address Relationships
Director 10% Owner Officer Other
Welch Dennis E
AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER
1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA
COLUMBUS, OH 43215		       Executive Vice President  

Signatures

/s/ Thomas G. Berkemeyer, Attorney-in-Fact for Dennis E. Welch 02/03/2012
**Signature of Reporting Person Date

Explanation of Responses:

* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5(b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1) The restricted stock units vest in three equal installments on May 1, 2012, May 1, 2013 and May 1, 2014
(2) The restricted stock units vest in three equal installments on May 1, 2013, May 1, 2014 and May 1, 2015
(3) Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of AEP common stock
(4) Career Shares become payable upon the reporting person's termination of employment with AEP.
(5) Options are currently exercisable.

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