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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VeQL/G6fyfRU4MBtPWGf7gKvxzpd88x4HkNTimjJo3ySMgBub2eV/jlfBNrU3R2q
 ewZw+g5RV1Iz5XhoxjbUOQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001259559-06-000101.txt : 20060803
<SEC-HEADER>0001259559-06-000101.hdr.sgml : 20060803
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060803102559
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001259559-06-000101
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060802
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060803
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060803

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 PLAZA
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43215
		BUSINESS PHONE:		614-716-1193

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43215

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KINGSPORT UTILITIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19660906

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ENGLISH CARL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180224

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03525
		FILM NUMBER:		061000445

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		212 W MAIN AVE
		CITY:			JACKSON
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			49201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		614-716-1648

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER
		STREET 2:		1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA
		CITY:			COLUMBUS
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43215
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-08-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004904</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ENGLISH CARL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 RIVERSIDE PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBUS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43215</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President-Utility Group</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3195</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.84</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25723</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes units of reinvested dividends acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Plan re Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William E. Johnson, Attorney-in-Fact for Carl L. English</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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