EXHIBIT 3(b)
                              ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                     TO THE
                       RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                          WEST TEXAS UTILITIES COMPANY

Pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  the  Texas  Business   Corporation  Act,  the
undersigned  corporation  hereby amends its Articles of  Incorporation,  and for
that purpose, submits the following statement:

1. The name of the corporation is: West Texas Utilities Company.

2. Article One of the Restated Articles of Incorporation is hereby amended so as
to read as  follows:  The  name of the  Corporation  shall  be AEP  Texas  North
Company.

3. The date of adoption of each amendment is: December 11, 2002.

4. The number of shares of the  corporation  outstanding at the time of adoption
of the  amendment  was  5,490,327,  and the  number of shares  entitled  to vote
thereon was 5,488,560.

5. The  designation  and  number of  outstanding  shares of each class or series
entitled to vote thereon as a class were as follows

Class or Series                Number of Outstanding Shares and Entitled to Vote

Common Stock                                     5,488,560

Preferred                                            2,367

6.  The  Number  of  shares  of the  corporation  voted  for the  amendment  was
5,488,560.

The  number  of shares of each  class or series  entitled  to vote as a class or
series voted for or against such amendment was as follows:

Class or Series                     Number of Shares          Number of Shares
                                        Voted For               Voted Against

Common Stock                            5,488,560                    0

7. The  foregoing  amendment  will not  effect a change in the  amount of stated
capital of the corporation.


Date   December 17, 2002
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                                   By     /s/ Thomas V. Shockley, III
                                       ---------------------------------
                                       Thomas V. Shockley, III,
                                        Vice President