10-K/APeriod: FY2004

AMERICAN ELECTRIC POWER CO INC Annual Report (Amendment), Year Ended Dec 31, 2004

Filed May 6, 2005For Securities:AEP

Summary

This filing is an amendment (10-K/A) to American Electric Power Company, Inc.'s (AEP) 2004 Annual Report, specifically amending Item 9A concerning Controls and Procedures. The amendment clarifies the definition of disclosure controls and procedures and rephrases language related to internal control changes during the fourth quarter of 2004, primarily due to AEP's integration with PJM. Investors should note that this filing does not update other disclosures from the original 10-K. The core message is that management, as of December 31, 2004, concluded that AEP and its subsidiaries' disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Key changes to internal controls involved adapting business processes and controls for participation in the PJM market. The filing also confirms AEP's status as an accelerated filer, while most subsidiaries are not.

Key Highlights

  • 1This document is an amendment (10-K/A) to the 2004 Form 10-K, focusing on the "Controls and Procedures" section (Item 9A).
  • 2The amendment provides clarification on the definition and function of disclosure controls and procedures.
  • 3Management affirmed that as of December 31, 2004, disclosure controls and procedures were effective for AEP and its subsidiaries.
  • 4A significant change in internal control over financial reporting was the implementation of new processes and controls related to AEP's integration with PJM on October 1, 2004.
  • 5The filing confirms that American Electric Power Company, Inc. is an "accelerated filer."
  • 6Most of AEP's subsidiary registrants are noted as not being accelerated filers.
  • 7The amendment does not modify or update other disclosures from the original Form 10-K filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

This filing is an amendment to AEP's 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Its primary purpose is to amend and restate Item 9A, 'Controls and Procedures,' to respond to comments from the SEC staff and clarify certain aspects of disclosure controls and internal controls over financial reporting, particularly those affected by the PJM integration.

The filing states that management concluded the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2004. The only change noted in internal control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2004 related to the integration with PJM, which involved implementing and modifying business processes and controls. No material weaknesses are explicitly mentioned in this amendment.

PJM is an independent system operator that manages the grid and wholesale electricity market for a significant portion of the Eastern United States. AEP's integration with PJM on October 1, 2004, required the company to implement and modify various business processes and internal controls to effectively participate in and settle transactions within the PJM market. This operational change directly impacted AEP's internal control environment.

No, this amendment specifically addresses Item 9A concerning controls and procedures. It explicitly states that 'No attempt has been made in this Form 10-K/A to modify or update other disclosures as presented in the original Form 10-K.' Therefore, it does not contain updated financial results or other operational updates beyond the scope of controls and procedures.