Exhibit 23(a)


                         CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

         We consent  to the  incorporation  by  reference  in this  Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of American  Electric  Power  Company,  Inc. of our report
dated February 26, 2001 (which expresses an unqualified  opinion and includes an
explanatory  paragraph  referring  to the  restatement  of  the  1999  and  1998
financial  statements to give retroactive effect to the conforming change in the
method of accounting for vacation pay accruals) incorporated by reference in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of American Electric Power Company, Inc. for the year
ended  December 31, 2000;  our report dated  February 26, 2001  appearing in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of American Electric Power Company, Inc. for the year
ended December 31, 2000; and to the reference to us under the heading  "Experts"
in the Prospectus, which is part of the Registration Statement.


Deloitte & Touche LLP

Columbus, Ohio
April 5, 2001