American Electric Power spent $1.9 million lobbying
WASHINGTON—American Electric Power Co., one of the nation's largest power generators, spent $1.9 million in the first quarter to lobby the federal government as it sought lower prices for coal shipments.
Big coal users such as AEP have been pressing the government to change the system for federally regulated railroad shipments, arguing that the five major freight rail companies overcharge users.
Columbus, Ohio-based AEP lobbied in favor of bills that would alter the system for railroad pricing and would give tax credits for the expansion of railroad capacity.
AEP also lobbied on terrorism insurance, energy, economic stimulus, port safety and farm legislation, according to a form posted online April 21 with the Senate's public records office.
Besides lawmakers, AEP lobbied the departments of Energy, State, Homeland Security, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The company's first-quarter 2008 lobbying exceeded its efforts for all of 2007, when it spent $1.7 million lobbying.
Lobbyists are required to disclose activities that could influence members of the executive and legislative branches, under a federal law enacted in 1995.
