GRI EC8

Corporate Citizenship / Corporate Sustainability Report / GRI - The Global Reporting Initiative

Leadership, Management & Strategy
Environmental Performance
Work Force Issues
Public Policy Strategy
Climate Change
Energy Security, Reliability & Growth
Stakeholder Engagement
GRI - The Global Reporting Initiative
Electric Utility Supplement
Mid-cycle Reporting Update

EC8 - Development and impact of infrastructure investments and services provided primarily of public benefit through commercial, in-kind, or pro bono engagement (Core)

AEP's operations and activities have a significant beneficial impact on the areas where they are located. Each year, the company invests billions of dollars in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure to ensure reliable service to the communities and customers that AEP serves.

In 2008, the company spent approximately $2.1 billion for general capital improvements to its existing generating fleet, for new power generating capacity, and for environmental improvement projects designed to enhance the environmental performance of its existing power plants. AEP also invested approximately $620 million in transmission infrastructure including investments to enhance reliability, allow for prudent asset replacements and to improve customer service. The distribution organization invested nearly $1.1 billion for customer service improvements, asset enhancement, reliability, system restoration and other major initiatives. In the aggregate, these investments represent an investment in infrastructure of nearly $3.9 billion.
The various projects supported local economies through the addition of tax revenues, the impact of additional temporary jobs and scores of permanent jobs, and the development of infrastructure to support business development.

In addition, AEP supports a comprehensive suite of community involvement programs that allow the company to fulfill its primary community relations objective – "to support and play an active, positive role in the communities where we live and work."

These programs include educational initiatives designed to advance our communities’ understanding of energy and energy-related issues. They include community relations programs such as AEP Connects, which provides grants to nearly 1,000 organizations on behalf of active and retired employees who perform volunteer service for those organizations. And they include the contributions of the AEP Foundation – a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities we serve.