Utilities Earn Recognition from National Arbor Day Foundation

Nebraska City, Neb., April 4, 2005 — A record number of utility companies from across the country were recognized this week by The National Arbor Day Foundation at the Trees and Utilities National Conference, held in Omaha, Neb. The Tree Line USA program recognizes utilities that practice quality tree care, provide annual worker training, and offer a tree planting and public education program. This year an additional 12 utilities have been certified to participate in the program.

The 137 utility companies recognized this year serve a combined total of more than 67 million American households. They include both investor-owned and public utilities of all sizes, ranging from those serving thousands of households in a single community to others providing service to millions of people in several states.

“When utilities preserve community trees while providing reliable service, it not only helps assure us of beautiful trees for the future, but also results in long-term operational savings for the utility,” said John Rosenow, president of The National Arbor Day Foundation.

These utilities have demonstrated their dedication to quality tree care practices. One example is the growing acceptance of natural pruning, which trains trees to grow around utility wires, instead of ‘topping’ trees, or severely cutting back the main branches of a tree.

Among actions taken by Tree Line utilities are strategic tree plantings to help homeowners reduce heating and cooling costs, partnerships with schools, and cooperation with local nurseries to teach homeowners which trees are suitable for planting near power lines.

The following is a regional listing of Tree Line USA utilities:

California

Azusa Light and Water Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Burbank Water and Power Pacific Gas & Electric Company
City of Anaheim Public Utilities Department Pasadena Water & Power
City of Lompoc Utility Services Sacramento Municipal Utility District
City of Redding Electric Utility San Diego Gas & Electric Company
City of Riverside Public Utilities Southern California Edison

(continued)
(Tree Line participants, pg. 2)

Midwest and West

AEP Public Service Company of Oklahoma MidAmerican Energy Company, serving Iowa,
Alliant Energy, serving Ill., Iowa, Minn., and Wis. Ill., Neb., and S.D.
Ameren, serving Ill. and Mo. Mishawaka Utilities, of Ind.
Boone Electric Cooperative, of Mo. Montana-Dakota Utilities Co. of N.D. serving
Brigham City Light & Power, of Utah, Mo., S.D., N.D., and Co.
City of Batavia Municipal Electric Utility, of Ill. Nebraska City Utilities, of Neb.
City of St. Charles, of Ill. Northern Indiana Public Service Company, of
City of Stoughton Electric, of Wis. Ind.
City of Westerville Electric Division, of Ohio Omaha Public Power District, of Neb.
City Utilities of Springfield, of Mo. Pioneer Electric Cooperative, of Ohio
Colorado Springs Utilities, of Colo. Pierce Pepin Cooperative Services, of Wis
Columbia Water & Light, of Mo. Richland Electric Cooperative, of Wis. ComEd, of Ill. Richmond Power & Light, of Ind.
Crawford Electric Cooperative, of Mo. Shawano Municipal Utilities, of Wis.
Cuivre River Electric Coop, of Mo. San Luis Valley Rural Electric Cooperative, Inc,
Cuyahoga Falls Electric Department, of Ohio of Co.
Detroit Edison, of Mich. Upper Peninsula Power Company, of Mich.
East Central Energy of Minn. Vernon Electric Cooperative, of Wis.
Illinois Power Village of Rantoul, of Ill.
Independence Power & Light, of Mo. Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative, of Ill.
Indianapolis Power & Light, of Ind. WE Energies, of Wis.
Kansas City Power and Light, of Mo. Westar, of Kan.
Madison Gas and Electric Company, of Wis. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation,
MidAmerican Energy Company, serving Mich. and Wis.
Serving Iowa, Ill, Neb., and S.D.

New England and Middle Atlantic

Bath Electric, Gas & Water Systems, of N.Y. Long Island Power Authority, N.Y.
Central Vermont Public Service Corp. National Grid USA, serving Mass., N.H., and R.I.
Chicopee Electric Light, of Mass. New York State Electric and Gas
Choptank Electric Cooperative, of Md. Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation, N.Y.
Citizens Electric Company, of Pa. NSTAR, of Mass.
Conectiv, serving Del., Md., N.J. and Va. Orange & Rockland Utilities, serving N.J., N.Y., and Pa.
Delaware Electric Cooperative PEPCO, serving the District of Columbia and Md.
Duquesne Light Company, of Pa. Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, of Va.
First Energy, serving N.J., Ohio and Pa. Rochester Gas & Electric, of N.Y.
Gaffney Board of Public Works, S.C.

Northwest, including Alaska

Benton Public Utility District, of Wash. PacifiCorp, serving Cali., Idaho, Ore., Utah,
Chugach Electric Association, of Alaska Wash., and Wyo.
City of Forest Grove Light & Power, of Ore. Peninsula Light Company, of Wash.
Clark Public Utilities, of Wash. PUD #1 of Chelan County, Wash.
Consumers Power, of Ore. Puget Sound Energy, of Wash.
Golden Valley Electric Assn., of Alaska Richland Energy Services, of Wash.
Idaho Power Company, serving Idaho, Nev. and Ore. Snohomish County PUD District No. 1, of Wash.
Matanuska Electric Association, of Alaska Tacoma Power, of Wash.
(continued)

(Tree Line participants, pg.3
Southeast

AEP SWEPCO, serving Ark., La. and Texas Dyersburg Electric System, of Tenn.
)
AEP Texas Central Company Entergy Corporation, serving Ark., La., Miss.,
AEP Texas North Company and Texas
Alabama Power Florida Power & Light
Bristol Tennessee Electric System Gainesville Regional Utilities, of Fla
City of Tallahassee Electric, of Fla. Johnson City Power Board, of Tenn.
Cleveland Utilities, of Tenn. Knoxville Utilities Board, of Tenn.
Cleco Power LLC, of La. Lakeland Electric, of Fla.
Ocala Electric Utility, of Fla. Opelika Light & Power, of Ala.
Clinton Utilities Board, of Tenn. Owensboro Municipal Utilities, of Ken..
Cookeville Electric Membership Corporation of Tenn. Ruston Light and Power, of La.
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation of Tenn.

Southwest

Arizona Public Service ONCOR, of Texas
Austin Energy, Texas People’s Electric Cooperative, of Okla.
Brownsville Public Utilities Board, of Texas Provo City Power Company, of Utah
CenterPoint Energy, of Texas Public Service Company of N.M.
City Public Service of San Antonio, of Texas Salt River Project, of Ariz.
Edmond Electric, of Okla. Xcel Energy, serving Ariz., Colo., Kan., Mich.,
OG&E Electric Services, serving Ark. and Okla. Minn., N.M., N.D., Okla., Texas, Wis., and Wyo.

The National Arbor Day Foundation sponsors Tree Line USA in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters. The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit education organization that inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. Additional information on the Foundation and its programs is available by calling 402-474-5655 or by visiting the Foundation’s web site, arborday.org.

# # #