Columbus, Ohio, and Dallas, April 21, 1999 -- American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP) and Central and South West Corporation (NYSE: CSR) have reached separate settlements with six wholesale customers that address their questions or concerns about the proposed merger of AEP and CSW. AEP and CSW announced their intent to merge on Dec. 22, 1997 and are seeking necessary regulatory approvals. Under terms of the separate settlements, Blue Ridge Power Agency, Buckeye Power Inc., Cajun Electric Power Cooperative, Indiana and Michigan Municipal Distributors Association, Indiana Municipal Power Agency, and North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation will not oppose the merger during upcoming hearings or reviews by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission. The six had intervened at FERC. "These settlements address specific issues of importance to the six customers and we're pleased to have reached agreements," said E. Linn Draper Jr., AEP's chairman, president and chief executive officer. "We are meeting on a daily basis seeking settlements with our states, customers and other stakeholders. We answer questions about our plans and the many benefits of the merger, and we work to resolve outstanding issues. "We're making substantial progress, as illustrated by these and other recently announced settlements," Draper said. "Each settlement moves us one step closer to completing the merger and moves our customers, shareholders and employees one step closer to reaping the benefits." In general terms: -- The Blue Ridge Power Agency settlement resolves issues related to a potential refund due to Blue Ridge from a pending FERC rate case. Blue Ridge Power Agency represents Virginia Tech and seven municipalities in Virginia. -- The settlement with Buckeye Power resolves various financial issues related to the AEP and Buckeye Power joint ownership of the Cardinal power plant in southern Ohio. Buckeye Power owns two generating units and is owned by Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives Inc., a statewide service organization for Ohio's 26 consumer-owned electric distribution cooperatives. -- The settlement with Cajun provides continued service under existing transmission service agreements through Jan. 1, 2003. Cajun generates and sells power to 11 rural electric cooperatives in Louisiana. -- The Indiana and Michigan Municipal Distributors Association settlement creates a rate cap through Dec. 31, 2002. Indiana and Michigan Municipal Distributors Association represents the 12 municipal utilities served by AEP in Indiana and Michigan. -- The settlement with Indiana Municipal Power Agency resolves various transmission issues. Indiana Municipal Power Agency is a joint action agency providing wholesale electricity to 31 member utilities spread throughout Indiana, serving an aggregate 150,000 accounts and a combined population of about 240,000. -- The settlement with North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation creates the ability for the customer to arrange alternative delivery points to serve its load under the existing power supply agreement. North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation, the nation's second-largest generation and transmission cooperative, is the power supplier for 27 member cooperatives. 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.