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To: kodiak_bull who wrote (82633)	12/26/2000 10:12:04 AM
From: isopatch	Respond to of 95453

Thanks JimP, aka SDs Santa(g), for the great tip on SMOP!! Catching up > on the thread after lots of quality time with the family last week. A great Xmas. Haven't posted much but for the sake of disclosure, IMHO think we have a low in place last week. Bot a nice medium size position in KMG at 61 3/8, late last week, along with a similar size position in MDR @ 9 7/16 and a sm position in TTN as a flyer. Sill holding sm pos in VPI @ 19 7/8 from about 2 weeks ago. Have drawn cash down from 80% to about 65% and may add on dips this week. Looks like at least a nice ST rally going into January when I expect Greenie to cut. Best Iso

To: kodiak_bull who wrote (82633)	12/26/2000 1:55:21 PM
From: Douglas V. Fant	Respond to of 95453

KB, Here's a piece of good news for the Upper Midwest...and we could have bought AEP six weeks ago when it pulled back to $38-39/share with a 6% dividend! AEP is headed toward a successful nationwide in scope power business....If you're looking at gas-to-power stocks, then one might consider gas-to-power competitors, i.e., such as companies with large nuclear generating asset bases.... AEP's Cook Nuclear Plant Unit 1 Returns to Service; Both Units on Line for First Time Since September 1997 BRIDGMAN, Mich., Dec. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Cook Nuclear Plant Unit 1 returned to service Dec. 21 for American Electric Power (NYSE: AEP - news). At 9:39 p.m. Dec. 21, reactor operator Dave Cantrell closed the breaker and connected the electrical output of the generator to the AEP transmission grid. This marked the first time that Units 1 and 2 have been on-line since September 1997. Unit 1 reactor was operating at 9 percent power. Plant operators will now perform various system tests and functional tests during a carefully controlled ascension to full power over the next five to seven days. ``I want to thank the entire Cook team and their families for the hard work and sacrifices that went into restarting this plant,'' said Bob Powers, AEP senior vice president - nuclear generation. ``It's been a long hard road, but we've emerged better prepared for future business challenges and are poised for success and long-term operation of this plant.'' The units were idled in September 1997 because of questions raised about operability of safety systems. Major accomplishments during the restart include: complete refurbishment of each unit's ice condenser systems; in- depth review, analysis and modifications to plant safety systems, processes and procedures; re-validation of plant design and licensing basis, re- accreditation of plant training programs and replacement of Unit 1 steam generators. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced Dec. 13 that performance improvements and plant modifications were sufficient to allow Unit 1 to resume operations and operate safely. The unit began reactor operation, maintaining a sustained nuclear fission chain reaction, on Dec. 18. ``What a terrific way to end the year,'' said E. Linn Draper Jr., AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. ``To have both Cook units running and on track for future success is a great way to cap a year of dramatic change and important accomplishments for AEP.'' Cook Unit 2 returned to service in June and has operated at full capacity since that time. Unit 1 was originally projected to return to service in the first quarter of 2001. ``Restarting Unit 1 just six months after Unit 2 and ahead of our most optimistic schedule is a significant accomplishment for this team,'' said Powers. Cantrell was part of a seven-person operations crew led by shift manager Steve Koshar. By closing the breaker in the control room, Cantrell remotely operated a 15-foot-tall high voltage air blast breaker located in the 345- kilovolt transmission switchyard one quarter mile from the plant. Because the unit has not been operational in some time, there is the possibility that minor equipment maintenance or modification issues could arise during the early days after returning to service. Unit 1's reactor core is fully loaded with fuel, making it capable of full power operation for approximately 18 months. The generating capacity of Cook Unit 1 is 1,020 megawatts, and Unit 2 is 1,090 megawatts. With both units running at full power, Cook generates enough power to serve the needs of a city of over 1 million people. Draper noted that in addition to restart of both Cook units during 2000, AEP has also completed its merger with Central and South West Corporation, seen growth in its wholesale businesses and navigated through restructuring in several states in its service territory. American Electric Power is a multinational energy company based in Columbus, Ohio. AEP owns and operates more than 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity, making it one of America's largest generators of electricity. The company is also a leading wholesale energy marketer and trader, ranking second in the U.S. in electricity volume. AEP provides retail electricity to more than 9 million customers worldwide and has more than $35 billion in assets, primarily in the U.S. with holdings in select international markets. Wholly owned subsidiaries are involved in power engineering and construction services, energymanagement and telecommunications.