-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PV3+t4k4IF05DkABYfPMUTZ32C1Fk+JYQ4zMCuipKMHJe3sdZDWNmGe3b1hWbvyJ
 fLDycx3ym2KT/lMz59lBJQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001398889-08-000035.txt : 20080124
<SEC-HEADER>0001398889-08-000035.hdr.sgml : 20080124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080124114539
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001398889-08-000035
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080122
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080124

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:			Akins Nicholas K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001373601

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03525
		FILM NUMBER:		08546652

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		614-716-1648

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
		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>2008-01-22</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001373601</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Akins Nicholas K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER</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>EVP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Share Units (Career Shares)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10562</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-01-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-01-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10562</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10562</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Performance Share units awarded pursuant to the AEP Long-Term Incentive Plan.  The reporting person deferred the receipt of vested performance units (net of taxes) into Career Shares (phantom stock) in AEP's Stock Ownership Requirement Plan.  The Career Shares become payable upon the reporting person's termination of employment with AEP.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each Career Share is the economic equivalent of one share of AEP common stock</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas G. Berkemeyer, Attorney-in-Fact for Nicholas K. Akins</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----