Electric Companies Earn 2008 Energy Star Awards

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2008 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy have presented 11 shareholder-owned electric power companies with Energy Star awards for 2008 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.

The electric companies won their awards for their long-term commitment to the Energy Star program, for being an outstanding Energy Star partner of the year, and for their exceptional efforts in promoting Energy Star-rated homes and products.

"Energy efficiency gives the electric power industry a tool to produce significant and immediate benefits for the environment, the customer, and the industry," said Thomas R. Kuhn, President of Edison Electric Institute. "And promoting it aggressively gives us a bridge to the future. The 2008 Energy Star winning companies exemplify the significant progress the electric power industry is making in moving the industry and the nation toward that future."

The 2008 Energy Star Award winning electric companies are listed below:

-- Sustained Excellence

-- CenterPoint Energy

-- Northeast ENERGY STAR Products Initiative (National Grid, NSTAR Electric, Northeast Utilities)

-- Nevada ENERGY STAR Partners (Nevada Power)

-- Oncor Electric Delivery

-- Southern California Edison

Partner of the Year

-- Arizona Public Service

-- The Joint Management Committee representing Massachusetts New Homes with ENERGY STAR (National Grid, NSTAR Electric, Northeast Utilities)

-- National Grid

-- Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Excellence for Energy Star Promotion

-- Georgia Power

-- Nevada Power and Sierra Pacific Power

-- Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Energy Star was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Star offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money, and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 12,000 organizations are Energy Star partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses.

For more details about the 2008 Energy Star awards program, please visit: www.energystar.gov/awards. For more information on the electric power industry's energy efficiency programs and activities, please visit www.eei.org/wiseuse.

The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. We also have more than 65 International electric companies as Affiliate members, and more than 170 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate members.