Columbus, Ohio and Dallas, Texas (Nov. 2, 1999) -- American Municipal Power-Ohio (AMP-Ohio) will notify the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) that it is no longer opposing the pending merger between American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and Central and South West Corp. (NYSE: CSR). AMP-Ohio and AEP reached a settlement addressing outstanding issues. In return, AMP-Ohio is withdrawing as an intervenor in the merger process. AMP-Ohio is the nonprofit wholesale power supplier and services provider for most of Ohio's 84 community-owned public power systems, two West Virginia public power systems and four Pennsylvania public power systems. "We're pleased with this decision by AMP-Ohio," said E. Linn Draper Jr., AEP's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "As our merger approval process has progressed, AEP and CSW have successfully worked to identify issues of concern of intervenors. The many settlements we have reached are evidence of our progress. "We continue to work with the remaining intervenors to address their concerns," Draper said. "We're confident that this merger is as good for our customers and the competitive marketplace as it is for our employees and shareholders." AEP and CSW announced their intention to merge on Dec. 22, 1997. The merger has received conditional approval by state regulatory commissions in Arkansas and Louisiana, and approval in Oklahoma, three of the four states within CSW's service territory. The Public Utilities Commission of Texas is scheduled to consider the merger for decision during its open meeting on Nov. 4; however, the Texas administrative law judge earlier determined that the merger is in the public interest. AEP and CSW reached a settlement with the FERC trial staff in which the staff supports a finding that the merger will have no adverse effect on competition. The FERC hearings concluded on July 19. On July 28, the FERC issued an order imposing a procedural schedule on the FERC administrative law judge calling for his proposal for decision no later than Nov. 24 and stating its intention to act on the pending merger no later than February or March of next year. The Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO) has notified the FERC that the PUCO is no longer opposing the pending merger or seeking conditions on the merger. AEP and CSW have announced settlement agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) resulting in the IBEW and UWUA local unions withdrawing their opposition to completion of the merger; as well as with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) resulting in Indiana customers receiving merger benefits and including a commitment by the IURC not to oppose the merger during consideration of the merger agreement by the FERC and the SEC. AEP and CSW also have announced a settlement agreement with key parties in Kentucky that has been approved by the Kentucky Public Service Commission, as well as a settlement agreement with the Missouri Public Service Commission addressing that commission's concerns about the effect of the merger on retail competition in the state. Additionally, AEP and CSW have reached settlements with a variety of wholesale customers who had intervened in federal proceedings. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission has approved a license transfer application related to the merger. The merger requires approval by the FERC and the SEC and review by the Department of Justice. Upon completion of the merger, the new company will be called American Electric Power. Central and South West Corp. is a global, diversified public utility holding company based in Dallas. CSW owns four electric operating subsidiaries serving 1.7 million customers in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas; a regional electricity company in the United Kingdom; other international energy operations and non-utility subsidiaries involved in energy-related investments, telecommunications, energy efficiency and financial transactions. 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. News releases and other information about CSW can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.csw.com.