Robert P. Powers is president - AEP Utilities, responsible for AEP´s electric distribution operations that serve more than 5 million customers in 11 states. He also oversees regulatory and policy matters relating to utility operations.

Prior to this, he was executive vice president - AEP East Utilities, responsible for AEP’s utility operating units Appalachian Power, Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Columbus Southern Power and Ohio Power, which serve 3.2 million customers in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Previously, he was executive vice president - Generation, a position he had held since 2003. He was responsible for all generation activities, including fossil and hydro generation; nuclear generation; project and field services; fuel, emissions and logistics, and business services.

From 2001 to 2003, he was executive vice president - Nuclear and Technical Services. Powers joined AEP in 1998 as senior vice president of nuclear generation. He previously served as vice president and plant manager of Pacific Gas & Electric Co.'s Diablo Canyon Nuclear Generating Station.

He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Tufts University in Boston and a master's degree in radiological hygiene from the University of North Carolina. Powers earned senior reactor operator certification in 1991.