SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT
                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)                October 21, 2004

                      AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
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             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

                                    New York
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                 (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

1-3525                                                     13-4922640
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(Commission File Number)                       (IRS Employer Identification No.)

1 Riverside Plaza, Columbus, OH                                        43215
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)                             (Zip Code)

                                  614-716-1000
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              (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

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          (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

      Check the  appropriate  box below if the Form 8-K  filing is  intended  to
simultaneously  satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the
following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

[_]   Written  communications  pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
      CFR 230.425)

[_]   Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
      240.14a-12)

[_]   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  14d-2(b)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

[_]   Pre-commencement  communications  pursuant  to  Rule  13e-4(c)  under  the
      Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))



Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition

      The information, including the exhibit attached hereto, in this Current
Report is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of
Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise
subject to the liabilities of that section. The information in this Current
Report shall not be incorporated by reference into any registration statement or
other document pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, except as otherwise
stated in such filing.

      Attached and incorporated herein by reference as Exhibit 99 is a copy of
the press release of American Electric Power Company, Inc.'s financial results
for the quarter ending September 30, 2004.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

      (c)   Exhibits

            Exhibit 99.1 Press Release dated October 21, 2004



                                    SIGNATURE

      Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

                                       AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.

                                            By: /s/ Thomas G. Berkemyer
                                                --------------------------------
                                                Name: Thomas G. Berkemeyer
                                                Title: Assistant Secretary

October 21, 2004



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.                     Description
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99.1                       Press Release dated October 21, 2004