Consent of Independent Public Accountants


As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference in this Form S-3 of our report dated  February 25, 2000 on Central and
South West  Corporation,  included  and  incorporated  by  reference in American
Electric Power Company, Inc. Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2000, and
to all references to our firm included in this Form S-3.


Arthur Andersen LLP

Dallas, Texas,
April 5, 2001