Exhibit 4(b)


                      AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.


                                       AND


                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                   as Trustee


                             -----------------------



                          FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                             Dated as of May 1, 2001


                                       TO


                                    INDENTURE


                             Dated as of May 1, 2001


                 6.125% Senior Notes, Series A due May 15, 2006


                             -----------------------

     FIRST  SUPPLEMENTAL  INDENTURE,  dated as of the 1st day of May, 2001 (this
"First Supplemental Indenture"),  between AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.,
a corporation  duly  organized  and existing  under the laws of the State of New
York (hereinafter  sometimes referred to as the "Company"),  and THE BANK OF NEW
YORK, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (hereinafter sometimes referred
to as the  "Trustee")  under the  Indenture  dated as of May 1, 2001 between the
Company and the Trustee (the "Original Indenture").  The Original Indenture,  as
supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is hereinafter referred to as
the "Indenture".

     WHEREAS,  the Company has executed and delivered the Original  Indenture to
the Trustee to provide for the issuance of unsecured  promissory  notes or other
evidences of indebtedness (the "Securities") in an unlimited aggregate principal
amount,  said  Notes to be  issued  from  time to time in one or more  series as
provided in the Indenture; and

     WHEREAS,  pursuant  to the terms of the  Original  Indenture,  the  Company
desires to provide for the establishment of a new series of its Securities (said
series  being  hereinafter  referred to as the  "Series A Notes"),  the form and
substance  of such  Series A Notes  and the  terms,  provisions  and  conditions
thereof to be set forth as provided  in the  Original  Indenture  and this First
Supplemental Indenture; and

     WHEREAS,  the Company desires and has requested the Trustee to join with it
in the  execution  and delivery of this First  Supplemental  Indenture,  and all
requirements  necessary  to  make  this  First  Supplemental  Indenture  a valid
instrument,  in accordance with its terms, and to make the Series A Notes,  when
executed by the Company and  authenticated  and  delivered by the  Trustee,  the
valid  obligations of the Company,  have been  performed and fulfilled,  and the
execution and delivery hereof have been in all respects duly authorized;

     NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the purchase and  acceptance  of the
Series A Notes by the holders thereof,  and for the purpose of setting forth, as
provided in the Original Indenture, the form and substance of the Series A Notes
and the terms,  provisions and  conditions  thereof,  the Company  covenants and
agrees with the Trustee as follows:


                                   ARTICLE ONE
                         GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
                               THE SERIES A NOTES

     SECTION  1.01.  There  shall  be and  is  hereby  authorized  a  series  of
Securities  designated the "6.125%  Senior Notes,  Series A due May 15, 2006, in
the initial aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,000,  which amount shall be
as set forth in the Company  Order for the  authentication  and  delivery of the
Series A Notes pursuant to Section 2.04 of the Original Indenture.  The Series A
Notes shall mature and the principal shall be due and payable  together with all
accrued and unpaid interest  thereon on May 15, 2006, and shall be issued in the
form of registered Series A Notes without coupons.

     SECTION 1.02. The Series A Notes shall be issued initially in the form of a
Global Note or Notes in an aggregate  principal  amount equal to all outstanding
Series A Notes, to be registered in the name of the Depository,  or its nominee,
and held by the Trustee,  as custodian  for the  Depository.  The Company  shall
execute a Global Note or Notes in such  aggregate  principal  amount and deliver
the same to the Trustee for  authentication  and delivery as hereinabove  and in
the Original Indenture provided.  Payments of principal of (and premium, if any)
and interest on the Series A Notes  represented by a Global Note will be made to
the  Depository.  The  Depository for the Series A Notes shall be The Depository
Trust Company, New York, New York.

     SECTION 1.03. (a) If,  pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.11(c) of the
Original  Indenture,  the  Series  A Notes  are  issued  in  certificated  form,
principal,  premium, if any, and interest on the Series A Notes will be payable,
the transfer of such Series A Notes will be registrable  and such Series A Notes
will be exchangeable  for Series A Notes bearing  identical terms and provisions
at the office or agency of the Company only upon surrender of such  certificated
Series A Note and such other documents as required by the Indenture.

     (b)  Subject  to any terms of the  Series A Notes  issued as Global  Notes,
payment of the principal of (and  premium,  if any) and interest on the Series A
Notes will be made at the office or agency of the  Company  maintained  for that
purpose in the  Borough of  Manhattan,  the City and State of New York,  in such
coin or  currency  of the United  States of America as at the time of payment is
legal  tender for the  payment of public and  private  debts and in  immediately
available funds; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of
interest  may be made by wire  transfer  of  immediately  available  funds to an
account of the Person entitled  thereto as such account shall be provided to the
Security  Registrar  at least 10 days prior to the  relevant  payment date or by
check in New York  Clearinghouse  Funds  mailed  to the  address  of the  person
entitled  thereto  as  such  address  shall  appear  in the  Security  Register;
provided,  further,  for so  long  as the  Series  A  Notes  are  listed  on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange,  payment may be made in Luxembourg,  initially at the
corporate trust office of Kredietbank S.A., Luxembourgoise, as Luxembourg paying
agent.

     SECTION 1.04.  Each Series A Note shall bear interest at the rate of 6.125%
per annum from the original date of issuance until the principal thereof becomes
due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to the extent that payment of
such interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of
interest at the same rate per annum,  payable  semi-annually  in arrears on each
May 15 and  November  15 (each,  an  "Interest  Payment  Date"),  commencing  on
November  15, 2001.  Interest  (other than  interest  payable on  redemption  or
maturity) shall be payable to the person in whose name such Series A Note or any
predecessor  Series A Note is registered at the close of business on the regular
record date for such  interest  installment.  The  regular  record date for such
interest  installment  shall be the close of business on the May 1 or November 1
(whether  or not a Business  Day) next  preceding  the  Interest  Payment  Date.
Interest  payable on  redemption  or maturity  shall be payable to the person to
whom the principal is paid. Any such interest installment not punctually paid or
duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered  holders
on such  regular  record  date,  and may be paid to the person in whose name the
Series A Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close
of business on a special  record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment
of such  defaulted  interest,  notice  whereof shall be given to the  registered
holders of the Series A Notes not less than 10 days prior to such special record
date,  or may be paid at any time in any other  lawful  manner not  inconsistent
with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Series A Notes may
be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more
fully provided in Section 2.03 of the Original Indenture.

     The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day  months.  In the event that any date on which
the Series A Notes mature or are redeemed, or date on which payment is scheduled
to be made  pursuant to a redemption  or any  interest  payment  date,  is not a
Business Day, then payment of interest  payable on such date will be made on the
next  succeeding  day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other
payment in respect of any such delay),  except that,  if such Business Day is in
the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding  Business  Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such date.

     SECTION  1.05.  The Series A Notes shall be  unsecured  and  unsubordinated
obligations  of the  Company  ranking  pari passu with all other  unsecured  and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company.

     SECTION  1.06.  The Series A Notes shall not be subject to any sinking fund
provision.

     SECTION  1.07.  The Company  shall be subject to the  provisions  described
under "Restrictive Covenants" in the form of the Security attached as Exhibit A.


                                   ARTICLE TWO
                        REDEMPTION OF THE SERIES A NOTES

     SECTION  2.01.  (a) The Company shall have the right to redeem the Series A
Notes as set forth  under  "Redemption  -  Optional  Redemption"  in the form of
Security attached as Exhibit A hereto.

          (b) The  Company  shall have the right to redeem the Series A Notes as
     set forth under  "Redemption  - Redemption  For Tax Reasons" in the form of
     Security attached as Exhibit A hereto.

          (c) Any redemption pursuant to this Section will be made upon not less
     than 30 nor  more  than 60 days'  notice.  If the  Series A Notes  are only
     partially redeemed pursuant to Section 2.01(a),  the Notes will be redeemed
     by lot or in  such  other  manner  as  the  Trustee  shall  deem  fair  and
     appropriate in its discretion; provided, that if at the time of redemption,
     the Series A Notes are  represented by a Global Note, the Depository  shall
     determine by lot the  principal  amount of such Series A Notes held by each
     Series A Noteholder to be redeemed.


                                  ARTICLE THREE
                              FORM OF SERIES A NOTE

     SECTION  3.01.  (a) The  Series A Notes and the  Trustee's  Certificate  of
Authentication  to be endorsed  thereon are to be  substantially  in the form of
Exhibit A hereto.

     (b) The terms and  provisions of the Series A Notes as set forth in Exhibit
A are hereby  incorporated in and expressly made part of this First Supplemental
Indenture.


                                  ARTICLE FOUR
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SECTION  4.01.  Except  as  otherwise  expressly  provided  in  this  First
Supplemental  Indenture  or in the form of  Series A Note or  otherwise  clearly
required by the context hereof or thereof, all terms used herein or in said form
of Series A Note that are  defined  in the  Original  Indenture  shall  have the
several meanings respectively assigned to them thereby.

     SECTION  4.02.  The  Original  Indenture,  as  supplemented  by this  First
Supplemental  Indenture,  is in all respects  ratified and  confirmed,  and this
First Supplemental Indenture shall be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner
and to the extent herein and therein provided.

     SECTION 4.03. The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not
by the Trustee,  and the Trustee assumes no  responsibility  for the correctness
thereof.  The Trustee makes no  representation as to the validity or sufficiency
of this First Supplemental Indenture.

     SECTION  4.04.  This First  Supplemental  Indenture  may be executed in any
number of counterparts each of which shall be an original; but such counterparts
shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

     SECTION  4.05.  The Bank of New York is hereby  appointed the Paying Agent,
authenticating  agent and Security Registrar in the United States for the Series
A Notes. In addition, so long as the Series A Notes are listed on the Luxembourg
Stock  Exchange,  the Company will maintain a paying agent and transfer agent in
Luxembourg.  The Company's initial paying agent and transfer agent in Luxembourg
shall be Kredietbank  S.A.,  Luxembourgoise,  currently  located at 43 Boulevard
Royal, L-2955 Luxembourg.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental
Indenture  to be duly  executed,  and  their  respective  corporate  seals to be
hereunto  affixed  and  attested,   on  the  date  or  dates  indicated  in  the
acknowledgments and as of the day and year first above written.

                                           AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.


                                           By:  /s/ Geoffrey S. Chatas
                                                    Assistant Treasurer



                                           THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                           as Trustee

                                           By:  /s/ Paul Schmalzel
                                                    Vice President



                                                                      Exhibit A


Unless this  certificate  is presented by an  authorized  representative  of The
Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street,  New York, New York) to the issuer or
its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate
to be issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or in such other name as is
requested by an authorized  representative  of The Depository  Trust Company and
any payment is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER,  PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR  OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL  inasmuch as the  registered
owner hereof,  Cede & Co., has an interest herein.  Except as otherwise provided
in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but
not in  part,  only to  another  nominee  of the  Depository  or to a  successor
Depository or to a nominee of such successor Depository.

No.   R1

                      AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.
          $1,000,000,000 6.125% Senior Notes, Series A due May 15, 2006


CUSIP:  025537 AA 9                        Original Issue Date:  May 10, 2001

Stated Maturity:  May 15, 2006              Interest Rate:  6.125%

Principal Amount:  $____________

Redeemable:       Yes  X         No
In Whole:         Yes  X         No
In Part:          Yes  X         No

     AMERICAN  ELECTRIC  POWER COMPANY,  INC., a corporation  duly organized and
existing  under the laws of the  State of New York  (herein  referred  to as the
"Company",  which term  includes any successor  corporation  under the Indenture
hereinafter  referred to), for value received,  hereby promises to pay to CEDE &
CO. or registered  assigns,  the Principal  Amount specified above on the Stated
Maturity  specified above, and to pay interest on said Principal Amount from the
Original Issue Date  specified  above or from the most recent  interest  payment
date (each such date,  an "Interest  Payment  Date") to which  interest has been
paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on May 15 and November 15 in
each  year,  commencing  November  15,  2001,  at the  Interest  Rate per  annum
specified  above,  until  the  Principal  Amount  shall  have  been paid or duly
provided  for.  Interest  shall be  computed  on the basis of a 360-day  year of
twelve 30-day months.

     The interest so payable,  and punctually  paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest  Payment Date, as provided in the Indenture,  as  hereinafter  defined,
shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more  Predecessor
Securities)  shall have been  registered at the close of business on the regular
record date with respect to such Interest Payment Date, which shall be the May 1
or November 1, as the case may be,  immediately  preceding such Interest Payment
Date,  provided that interest  payable on the Stated  Maturity or any redemption
date shall be paid to the Person to whom  principal is paid.  Any such  interest
not so punctually  paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable
to the Holder on such regular  record date and shall be paid as provided in said
Indenture.

     If any Interest Payment Date, any redemption date or Stated Maturity is not
a Business  Day,  then payment of the amounts due on this Note on such date will
be made on the next  succeeding  Business  Day, and no interest  shall accrue on
such  amounts  for the  period  from  and  after  such  Interest  Payment  Date,
redemption date or Stated Maturity,  as the case may be, with the same force and
effect as if made on such date.

     This Note is one of a duly  authorized  series of Securities of the Company
(herein sometimes referred to as the "Notes"),  specified in the Indenture,  all
issued or to be issued in one or more series  under and pursuant to an Indenture
dated as of May 1, 2001 duly executed and delivered  between the Company and The
Bank of New York, a  corporation  organized  and existing  under the laws of the
State of New York,  as  trustee  (herein  referred  to as the  "Trustee")  (such
Indenture,  as originally executed and delivered and as thereafter  supplemented
and  amended  being  hereinafter  referred  to as  the  "Indenture"),  to  which
Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto or Company Orders reference is
hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights, obligations,
duties and immunities  thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of
the Notes. By the terms of the Indenture,  the Securities are issuable in series
which may vary as to amount,  date of  maturity,  rate of interest  and in other
respects as in the Indenture  provided.  This Note is one of the series of Notes
designated on the face hereof.

Restrictive Covenants

     Limitation upon Liens of Certain Subsidiaries

               For so long as any Securities of this series remain  outstanding,
          the Company will not create or incur or allow any of its  subsidiaries
          to create  or incur any  pledge  or  security  interest  on any of the
          capital stock of a Public  Utility  Subsidiary  held by the Company or
          one of its subsidiaries or a Significant Subsidiary.

          For purposes of this covenant:

               (i) Public Utility  Subsidiary  means, at any particular  time, a
          direct or indirect  subsidiary  of the Company  that, as a substantial
          part of its  business,  distributes  or transmits  electric  energy to
          retail or wholesale  customers at rates or tariffs that are  regulated
          by either a state or Federal regulatory authority.

               (ii)  Significant  Subsidiary  means, at any particular time, any
          direct  subsidiary  of  ours  whose   consolidated   gross  assets  or
          consolidated  gross revenues  (having  regard to the Company's  direct
          beneficial  interest in the shares,  or the like, of that  subsidiary)
          represent at least 25% of the Company's  consolidated  gross assets or
          consolidated  gross  revenues  appearing  in the most  recent  audited
          financial statements of the Company as of the date of determination.

     Limitation upon Mergers, Consolidations and Sale of Assets

               The  provisions  of  Article  Ten  of  the  Indenture   shall  be
          applicable to the Securities of this series.

Redemption

     Optional Redemption

     This Note may be redeemed  by the  Company at its  option,  in whole at any
time or in part from time to time,  upon not less than  thirty but not more than
sixty days' previous  notice given by mail to the registered  owners of the Note
at a redemption  price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal  amount
of the  Note  being  redeemed  and  (ii) the sum of the  present  values  of the
remaining  scheduled  payments  of  principal  and  interest  on the Note  being
redeemed  (excluding  the  portion of any such  interest  accrued to the date of
redemption)  discounted  (for  purposes  of  determining  present  value) to the
redemption  date on a semi-annual  basis  (assuming a 360-day year consisting of
twelve  30-day  months) at the  Treasury  Rate (as defined  below) plus 25 basis
points, plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.

     "Treasury  Rate" means,  with respect to any redemption  date, the rate per
     annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated
     (on a day count basis) of the Comparable  Treasury Issue,  assuming a price
     for  the  Comparable  Treasury  Issue  (expressed  as a  percentage  of its
     principal  amount)  equal  to  the  Comparable   Treasury  Price  for  such
     redemption date.

     "Comparable  Treasury  Issue"  means the United  States  Treasury  security
     selected  by an  Independent  Investment  Banker  as  having  an  actual or
     interpolated  maturity  comparable to the remaining term of the Notes to be
     redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance
     with customary financial practice,  in pricing new issues of corporate debt
     securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

     "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, (i)
     the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption
     date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer
     Quotation  or (ii) if the  Trustee  obtains  fewer than four such  Treasury
     Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

     "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers
     appointed by the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

     "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Merrill Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner &
     Smith Incorporated,  Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and UBS Warburg
     LLC or their  affiliates  which  are  primary  U.S.  Government  securities
     dealers,  and  their  respective  successors  and two  other  primary  U.S.
     Government securities dealers selected by the Trustee;  provided,  however,
     that if any of the  foregoing  or  their  affiliates  shall  cease  to be a
     primary  U.S.  Government  securities  dealer  in The  City of New  York (a
     "Primary  Treasury  Dealer"),  another  Primary  Treasury  Dealer  shall be
     substituted by the Company.

     "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation" means, with respect to each Reference
     Treasury  Dealer and any  redemption  date for the Notes,  the average,  as
     determined by the Trustee,  of the bid and asked prices for the  Comparable
     Treasury  Issue  (expressed  in each case as a percentage  of its principal
     amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference  Treasury Dealer
     at 3:30  p.m.  New York  time on the  third  Business  Day  preceding  such
     redemption date.

          The Company  shall not be required to (i) issue,  exchange or register
     the  transfer  of any Notes  during a period  beginning  at the  opening of
     business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
     less than all the outstanding  Notes and ending at the close of business on
     the day of such  mailing,  nor (ii) register the transfer of or exchange of
     any Notes called for redemption. This Global Note is exchangeable for Notes
     in definitive  registered form only under certain limited circumstances set
     forth in the Indenture.

          In the event of  redemption  of this Note in part only,  a new Note or
     Notes of this series, of like tenor, for the unredeemed portion hereof will
     be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the surrender of this Note.

     Redemption for Tax Reasons

     If,  as a result  of any  change  in,  or  amendment  to,  the laws (or any
regulations  or rulings  promulgated  thereunder)  of the United  States (or any
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein), or any change in,
or  amendments   to,  an  official   position   regarding  the   application  or
interpretation of such laws,  regulations or rulings,  which change or amendment
is announced or becomes  effective on or after the date of the original issuance
of the Securities of this series,  the Company  becomes or, based upon a written
opinion of independent counsel selected by the Company, will become obligated to
pay  Additional  Amounts as described  below with respect to  Securities of this
series, the Company may, at its option, redeem, as a whole, but not in part, the
Securities  of this  series  on not less  than 30 nor more  than 60 days'  prior
notice,  at a redemption  price equal to 100% of their principal amount together
with interest accrued but unpaid thereon to the date fixed for redemption.

Payment of Additional Amounts

     The  Company  will,  subject to the  limitations  set forth  below,  pay as
additional interest on the Securities of this series, such additional amounts as
are  necessary  in order that the net payment by the Company or the paying agent
of the  principal of and interest on the  Securities  of this series to a Holder
who is a  Non-U.S.  Holder,  after  deduction  for any  present  or future  tax,
assessment  or other  governmental  charge of the United  States or a  political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein,  imposed by withholding with
respect  to the  payment,  will not be less  than  the  amount  provided  in the
Securities  of this  series to be then due and payable  ("Additional  Amounts");
provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to pay Additional Amounts shall
not apply:

          (i) to any  tax,  assessment  or  other  governmental  charge  that is
     imposed  or  withheld  solely  by  reason of the  Holder,  or a  fiduciary,
     settlor, beneficiary,  member or shareholder of the Holder if the Holder is
     an estate, trust,  partnership or corporation,  or a person holding a power
     over  an  estate  or  trust  administered  by  a  fiduciary  holder,  being
     considered as:

               (A) being or having been  present or engaged in trade or business
          in the United  States or having had a permanent  establishment  in the
          United States;

               (B)  having a current  or  former  relationship  with the  United
          States, including a relationship as a citizen or resident thereof;

               (C) being or having been a foreign or domestic  personal  holding
          company,  a passive foreign investment company or a controlled foreign
          corporation  with respect to the United States or a  corporation  that
          has accumulated earnings to avoid United States federal income tax;

               (D)  being  or  having  been a  "10-percent  shareholder"  of the
          Company as defined in Section  871(h)(3) of the United States Internal
          Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor provision; or

               (E) being a bank  receiving  payments on an  extension  of credit
          made pursuant to a loan agreement  entered into in the ordinary course
          of its trade or business;

          (ii) to any  holder  that  is not the  sole  beneficial  owner  of the
     Securities of this series, or a portion thereof,  or that is a fiduciary or
     partnership,  but only to the extent  that a  beneficiary  or settlor  with
     respect to the fiduciary,  a beneficial  owner or member of the partnership
     would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the
     beneficiary,  settlor,  beneficial  owner or member  received  directly its
     beneficial or distributive share of the payment;

          (iii) to any tax,  assessment  or other  governmental  charge  that is
     imposed  or  withheld  by reason of the  failure of the holder or any other
     person  to  comply  with   certification,   identification  or  information
     reporting requirements concerning the nationality,  residence,  identity or
     connection with the United States, or otherwise with respect to the status,
     of the Holder or beneficial  owner of the Securities of this series (or any
     beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member thereof), if compliance is
     required by statute, by regulation of the United States Treasury Department
     or by an  applicable  income  tax  treaty to which the  United  States is a
     party, or by any official  interpretation or ruling promulgated pursuant to
     any of the  foregoing,  as a  precondition  to  exemption  from  such  tax,
     assessment or other governmental charge;

          (iv) to any tax,  assessment  or  other  governmental  charge  that is
     imposed  otherwise  than by  withholding by the Company or the paying agent
     from the payment;

          (v) to any  tax,  assessment  or  other  governmental  charge  that is
     imposed or  withheld  solely by reason of a change in law,  regulation,  or
     administrative or judicial  interpretation that becomes effective more than
     30 days after the payment  becomes due or is duly provided  for,  whichever
     occurs later;

          (vi) to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, wealth
     or personal property tax or similar tax,  assessment or other  governmental
     charge;

          (vii) to any tax,  assessment or other governmental charge required to
     be  withheld  by any paying  agent  from any  payment  of  principal  of or
     interest on any  Securities  of this  series,  if such  payment can be made
     without such withholding by any other paying agent; or

          (viii) in the case of any combination of items (i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
     (v), (vi) or (vii).

     The  Securities of this series are subject in all cases to any tax,  fiscal
or  other  law  or  regulation  or  administrative  or  judicial  interpretation
applicable  thereto.  Except as specifically  provided by the provisions of this
Security,  the Company shall not be required to make any payment with respect to
any tax,  assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or a
political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein.

     In particular, the Company will not pay any Additional Amounts
on any Securities of this series:

          (i) where  withholding  or  deduction  is  imposed  on a payment to an
     individual  and is  required  to be made  pursuant  to any  European  Union
     Directive on the taxation of savings  implementing  the  conclusions of the
     ECOFIN Council meeting of November 26 and 27, 2000 or any law  implementing
     or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, that Directive, or

          (ii)  presented for payment by or on behalf of a beneficial  owner who
     would have been able to avoid the  withholding  or deduction by  presenting
     the relevant Series A Note to another paying agent in a member state or the
     European Union.

          As discussed  above,  "U.S.  Holder" means a beneficial  holder of the
     Securities  of this  series that is (i) a citizen or resident of the United
     States,  (ii) a corporation or partnership created or organized in or under
     the laws of the United States or any political  subdivision thereof,  (iii)
     an estate the income of which is subject to United  States  federal  income
     taxation  regardless of its source,  or (iv) a trust that (a) is subject to
     the  supervision of a court within the United States and the control of one
     or more United States  persons as described in section  7701(a)(30)  of the
     Internal  Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,  or (b) has a valid election in
     effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a United
     States person.

          "Non-U.S.  Holder" means a holder of Securities of this series that is
     not a U.S. Holder.

     In case an Event of  Default,  as  defined  in the  Indenture,  shall  have
occurred and be  continuing,  the principal of all of the Notes may be declared,
and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the
effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

     The Indenture contains  provisions for defeasance at any time of the entire
indebtedness of this Note upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions
set forth therein.

     The Indenture contains  provisions  permitting the Company and the Trustee,
with the  consent  of the  Holders  of not less  than a  majority  in  aggregate
principal  amount of the Securities of all series affected by such  supplemental
indenture or indentures at the time outstanding  voting as one class, as defined
in the Indenture,  to execute supplemental  indentures for the purpose of adding
any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions
of the Indenture or of any supplemental  indenture or of modifying in any manner
the rights of the Holders of the  Securities;  provided,  however,  that no such
supplemental  indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of
any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend
the time of payment of interest thereon,  or reduce any premium payable upon the
redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of a Discount Security
that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity
thereof  pursuant  to the  Indenture,  without the consent of the holder of each
Security then outstanding and affected;  (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of
Securities,   the  holders  of  which  are  required  to  consent  to  any  such
supplemental indenture,  or reduce the percentage of Securities,  the holders of
which are  required  to waive any  default  and its  consequences,  without  the
consent of the holder of each Security then outstanding and affected thereby; or
(iii)  modify any  provision  of Section  6.01(c)  of the  Indenture  (except to
increase the  percentage of principal  amount of securities  required to rescind
and annul any  declaration  of amounts  due and payable  under the  Securities),
without the consent of the holder of each Security then outstanding and affected
thereby.  The Indenture  also contains  provisions  permitting  the Holders of a
majority in aggregate  principal  amount of the  Securities of any series at the
time outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of
such  series,  to  waive  any  past  default  in the  performance  of any of the
covenants contained in the Indenture,  or established  pursuant to the Indenture
with  respect  to such  series,  and its  consequences,  except a default in the
payment of the principal of or premium,  if any, or interest on any of the Notes
of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Note
(unless  revoked as provided in the  Indenture)  shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future  Holders and owners of this Note and of any
Note issued in exchange  herefor or in place hereof  (whether by registration of
transfer  or  otherwise),  irrespective  of whether or not any  notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

     No reference  herein to the  Indenture  and no provision of this Note or of
the  Indenture  shall alter or impair the  obligation  of the Company,  which is
absolute and  unconditional,  to pay the  principal of and premium,  if any, and
interest  on this  Note at the time and  place  and at the rate and in the money
herein prescribed.

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set
forth, this Note is transferable by the registered holder hereof on the Security
Register  of the  Company,  upon  surrender  of this  Note for  registration  of
transfer  at the  office or agency of the  Company as may be  designated  by the
Company  accompanied by a written  instrument or instruments of transfer in form
satisfactory  to the Company or the  Trustee  duly  executed  by the  registered
Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly  authorized in writing,  and thereupon
one or more new Notes of  authorized  denominations  and for the same  aggregate
principal  amount  and series  will be issued to the  designated  transferee  or
transferees.  No  service  charge  will be made for any such  transfer,  but the
Company  may  require  payment  of a sum  sufficient  to cover  any tax or other
governmental charge payable in relation thereto.

     Prior to due  presentment  for  registration  of transfer of this Note, the
Company,  the Trustee,  any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and
treat the registered  Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not
this Note shall be  overdue  and  notwithstanding  any  notice of  ownership  or
writing hereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose
of receiving  payment of or on account of the principal  hereof and premium,  if
any, and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company
nor the  Trustee  nor any  paying  agent  nor any  Security  Registrar  shall be
affected by any notice to the contrary.

     No  recourse  shall  be had  for the  payment  of the  principal  of or the
interest on this Note,  or for any claim based  hereon,  or otherwise in respect
hereof,  or based on or in respect of the Indenture,  against any  incorporator,
stockholder,  officer or  director,  past,  present or future,  as such,  of the
Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or
penalty or otherwise,  all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as
part  of the  consideration  for  the  issuance  hereof,  expressly  waived  and
released.

     The Notes of this  series are  issuable  only in  registered  form  without
coupons  in  denominations  of $1,000  and any  integral  multiple  thereof.  As
provided  in the  Indenture  and subject to certain  limitations,  Notes of this
series are exchangeable  for a like aggregate  principal amount of Notes of this
series of a  different  authorized  denomination,  as  requested  by the  Holder
surrendering the same.

     All terms used in this Note which are defined in the  Indenture  shall have
the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

     This  Note  shall  not be  entitled  to any  benefit  under  the  Indenture
hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
Certificate of  Authentication  hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be executed.


                          AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY, INC.


                         By:___________________________
                            Assistant Treasurer



                          CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

     This  is  one of the  Notes  of the  series  of  Securities  designated  in
accordance with, and referred to in, the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated:  May __, 2001

THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee


By:___________________________
   Authorized Signatory

     FOR  VALUE  RECEIVED,   the  undersigned  hereby  sell(s),   assign(s)  and
transfer(s) unto

(PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE)

- ---------------------------------------

- ----------------------------------------------------------------

- ----------------------------------------------------------------
(PLEASE PRINT OR TYPE NAME AND ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, OF
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
ASSIGNEE) the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
irrevocably constituting and appointing such person attorney to
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
transfer such Note on the books of the Issuer, with full
- ----------------------------------------------------------------
power of substitution in the premises.



Dated:________________________              _________________________



NOTICE:  The  signature  to this  assignment  must  correspond  with the name as
     written  upon the face of the  within  Note in  every  particular,  without
     alteration or enlargement or any change  whatever and NOTICE:  Signature(s)
     must be  guaranteed  by a  financial  institution  that is a member  of the
     Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP"),  the Stock Exchange
     Medallion Program ("SEMP") or the New York Stock Exchange,  Inc.  Medallion
     Signature Program ("MSP").