Press Release

NEW YORK, NY, May 17, 2007 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX News Network) -- About 450 crews working around the clock have restored electrical service to 21,500 customers who lost power from violent storms that battered Westchester County late Wednesday.

Approximately 9,500 customers are still without electricity.

The company's goal is to have those customers restored by late Friday. Some customers in the most severely damaged areas will be restored by Saturday evening.

Among the hardest-hit areas were the Towns of Cortlandt, New Castle, and Bedford/Mount Kisco; and Villages of Ossining and Croton.

Dry ice was distributed today at these locations:

--  Arcadian Shopping Center, South Highland Avenue, Ossining
--  Diamond Properties (the former Grand Union warehouse), 333 North
    Bedford Rd., Mount Kisco.

Customer outreach vans also were at those locations.

For residents picking up dry ice, instructions for safe handling and disposal are printed on the bag containing the ice. Dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide and should be used only in well-ventilated areas. Keep children and pets safely away.

The company urges customers to report power interruptions or service problems online at www.conEd.com, or by calling Con Edison's toll-free customer service number 1-800-75-CON ED (1-800-752-6633). When reporting an outage, customers should have their Con Edison account number available, if possible, and report whether their neighbors have also lost power.

When severe outages occur, primary distribution feeders are restored first, with the highest priority given to lines that supply the most customers out of service. Next, the crews will restore secondary equipment, such as transformers and secondary cables, again with highest priority given to lines supplying the most customers out of service. Individual services, lines serving a single home, will be restored as crews become available.

The company offers the following safety tips for its customers:

--  If you see downed electrical wires, do not go near them.  Treat all
    downed wires as if they are live.  Never attempt to move or touch them with
    any object.  Be mindful that downed wires can be hidden from view by tree
    limbs, leaves or water.

--  Report all downed wires to Con Edison and your local police department
    immediately.  If a power line falls on your car while you're in it, stay
    inside the vehicle and wait for emergency personnel.

--  If your power goes out, turn off all lights and appliances to prevent
    overloaded circuits when power is restored.  Leave at least one light
    switch in the on position to alert you when power has been restored.

--  Avoid opening your freezer to see if food is still frozen.  Every time
    you open the door, room-temperature air enters and speeds the thawing
    process.  Most fully loaded freezers will keep food frozen for
    approximately 36 to 48 hours; half-full freezers will keep food frozen for
    approximately 24 hours.

The company maintains in close contact with the Westchester County Department of Emergency Services to coordinate storm response as necessary.

Contact: Michael Clendenin 212-460-4111