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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OMKsdKXqpPkQBMbxnbi9xYs+ou+JEgl6jZ6rjT4y0Z7PKIyUOcFW51BGX814x92D
 tiM1k6hSJr90il58pH8nRA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001259559-04-000016.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0001259559-04-000016.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105145855
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001259559-04-000016
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DESBARRES JOHN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001161246

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03525
		FILM NUMBER:		04504122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER
		STREET 2:		SUITE 230
		CITY:			RADNOR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004904</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001161246</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DESBARRES JOHN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6640 SILVER LAKE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PARK CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84060</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Unit</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>491</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Co
mmon Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>491</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6211</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquisition pursuant to the AEP Stock Unit Accumulation 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><footnote id="F3">Includes 202 units of reinvested dividends in second, third and fourth quarters 2003 pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan.</footnote>
</footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Kevin R. Fease, Attorney-in-Fact for John P. DesBarres</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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