Executive Vice President – Utilities
Peggy Simmons is executive vice president of Utilities. She leads the seven operating companies that serve 5.6 million customers across AEP’s 11-state footprint, as well as the company’s customer support operations and its sales, economic and business development organization.
Previously, Simmons served as president and chief operating officer of Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO). She was responsible for all aspects of electric service for PSO’s more than 550,000 customers, including the distribution operations, safety, customer service, communications, external affairs, regulatory, and finance functions.
Prior to that, Simmons was managing director of Transmission Asset Strategy for American Electric Power (AEP) and was responsible for transmission strategy and policy, regulatory support, as well as outreach, siting and rights-of-way for transmission projects across the AEP 11-state footprint. Prior to her role in Transmission, Simmons was manager of regulatory commodity sourcing for AEP Ohio. She also served as manager of renewable energy in AEP's competitive business. Simmons joined AEP in 1999 as an energy trading scheduler in Commercial Operations.
Simmons earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Ohio State University and a master’s degree in public policy and administration from Central Michigan University. She is a graduate of the Executive Program-Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and is a member of the G100 Next Generation Leadership program.
Community service has been a vital part of Simmons’s career. She currently serves on the board of the BOK Financial Corporation (NASDAQ: BOKF). She chaired the Tulsa Area United Way’s 2022 $25 million campaign. Simmons also is a former member of the board of directors for the Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce and the State Chamber of Oklahoma (Tulsa County), the board of directors of the Tulsa Area United Way and the board of trustees for the Tulsa Community Foundation.