May 15, 2009 11:47 AM Eastern Time 

PATH Seeks Authorization in West Virginia for New Transmission Line

GREENSBURG, Pa. & COLUMBUS, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and Allegheny Energy (NYSE: AYE) today announced that an application was filed seeking authorization to build a proposed electric transmission line in West Virginia.

The Potomac-Appalachian Transmission Highline (PATH) consists of a 765-kilovolt transmission line extending nearly 280 miles from the Amos Substation in Putnam County, W.Va., to the proposed Kemptown Substation in Frederick County, Maryland. The project also includes an additional substation, Welton Spring, in northwestern Hardy County, W. Va.

Today’s filing with the West Virginia Public Service Commission marks the beginning of the state regulatory review for the project, which is expected to last approximately one year. Similar filings for the project will occur in Maryland and Virginia within the next seven to 10 days.

PATH will strengthen the regional transmission grid and directly address concerns about the existing system’s ability to reliably deliver power to customers. PJM Interconnection, the regional grid operator directing the construction of PATH, has determined that the project is critical to addressing regional reliability concerns. PJM’s latest analysis confirms that significant reliability problems could result in blackouts and brownouts in the region, beginning in 2014, if PATH is not completed.

“The PATH project is vital to the reliability of the electricity grid serving this region,” said Michael G. Morris, AEP Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “We understand the concerns about the impact of transmission lines and will work with the states and landowners to address concerns. But it is critical that we reinforce the transmission infrastructure to ensure we can continue to supply reliable electrical service 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.”

“We are committed to working closely with the public throughout this process to satisfy the region's energy needs while balancing the interests of those affected by the project,” said Paul J. Evanson, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Allegheny Energy. “We encourage the public to stay informed and support the states’ process for evaluating our proposal.”

To develop the application, the project siting team worked to identify a route that minimized PATH’s effect on all factors of the natural and human environment, while avoiding unreasonable and circuitous routes as well as extreme costs. The proposed route parallels existing transmission lines in many areas, including nearly the entire 100-mile segment between the proposed Welton Spring and Kemptown substations.

Since July 2008, the PATH project team hosted 24 public open houses across the study area, attended by more than 2,500 individuals. The sessions provided an overview of the project and gathered input from interested stakeholders. Throughout the process, the routing team reviewed nearly 3,000 written comments as well as mark-ups identifying homes and other landmarks through field inspections and detailed aerial photography.

The public will be able to view the state applications – including maps illustrating the proposed route – on the project website, www.pathtransmission.com. Today’s application will also be available on the West Virginia Public Service Commission Web site at www.psc.state.wv.us.

Allegheny Energy

Headquartered in Greensburg, Pa., Allegheny Energy is an investor-owned electric utility with total annual revenues of over $3 billion and more than 4,000 employees. The company owns and operates generating facilities and delivers low-cost, reliable electric service to 1.6 million customers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia. For more information, visit our Web site at www.alleghenyenergy.com.

American Electric Power

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 more than 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. More information is available at www.aep.com.