BRIDGMAN, Mich., Nov. 20, 1998 -- Michael W. Rencheck has been named vice president - nuclear engineering for American Electric Power (NYSE:AEP), according to Robert P. Powers, AEP senior vice president - nuclear generation. Rencheck, 37, was previously director - nuclear engineering and projects, at Florida Power Corporation's Crystal River Nuclear Station. He will work with acting chief nuclear engineer Eric Eckstein for an initial transition period before reporting directly to Powers. "Mike has significant engineering experience and has been involved in restarting two nuclear plants," Powers said. "Rick Eckstein has helped enormously in the assessment and management of engineering-related activities, and we now look to Mike to continue our efforts to become a world-class engineering organization." Eckstein, a loaned executive from the Institute of Nuclear Power Operations, will remain with AEP and assume a key role in the engineering organization. The specific position will be announced in the near future. Rencheck earned his bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from Ohio Northern University in 1983, and a master's degree in management this year from Robert Morris College in Corapolis, Maryland. He is a certified senior reactor operator and also a professional engineer. AEP, a global energy company, is one of the United States' largest investor-owned utilities, providing energy to 3 million customers in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. AEP has holdings in the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Australia. Wholly owned subsidiaries provide power engineering, energy consulting and energy management services around the world. The company is based in Columbus, Ohio. On Dec. 22, 1997, AEP announced a definitive merger agreement for a tax-free, stock-for-stock transaction with Central and South West Corp., a public utility holding company based in Dallas.