AEP’S COOK NUCLEAR PLANT JOINS UTILITIES SERVICE ALLIANCE

“Joining USA provides us additional resources to improve plant performance and reduce operating expenses,” said A. Christopher Bakken III, senior vice president - nuclear generation. “The existing members are a good fit with Cook, and I believe we can provide benefit to them as well.”

Current USA full members include:

• Detroit Edison Co.’s Fermi Station

• Energy Northwest’s Columbia Generating Station

• Nebraska Public Power District’s Cooper Nuclear Station

• Omaha Public Power District’s Fort Calhoun Station

• PPL Susquehanna LLC’s Susquehanna Station

• Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corp.’s Wolf Creek Generating Station

Sites that have joined USA at a reduced participant level include:

• Amergen’s Callaway Station

• STP Nuclear Operating Co.’s South Texas Project

• TXU’s Comanche Peak Station

• Pacific Gas and Electric Co.’s Diablo Canyon Station

• Arizona Public Service Co.’s Palo Verde Station

USA members launched several new programs and group vendor contracts in 2001 and reported net savings in excess of $1.1 million each. Additionally, more than 170 employees assisted with refueling outages at other stations. One station borrowed more than $350,000 in outage tools and equipment, avoiding purchase or rental of the equipment.

The alliance was founded in 1996 and is based in Overland Park, Kan.

Cook Nuclear Plant is a two-unit site in Bridgman with a combined generating capacity of 2,110 megawatts. The site provides enough electricity for a city of more than 1 million people.

American Electric Power is a multinational energy company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP owns and operates more than 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity, making it America´s largest generator of electricity. The company is also a leading wholesale energy marketer and trader, ranking second in North America in wholesale electricity and wholesale natural gas volume. AEP provides retail electricity to more than 7 million customers worldwide and has holdings in the U.S. and select international markets. Wholly owned subsidiaries are involved in power engineering and construction services.