During the last half of the 20th century, American Electric Power (AEP) began construction of a 39,000-mile transmission network spaning 11 states. It includes more 765,000-volt (765-kV) lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. Expansion of the network continues in the twenty-first century.  Here, is a (bomb proof) underground dispatch center  in AEP's eastern operating region that distributes energy according to peak load demands. Mostly coal-fired generating plants feed into the system throughout the network.

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