FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Mark Arend
(770) 325-3438 tel
(770) 263-8825 fax
mark.arend@conway.com

Two Ohio Utilities Listed Among Nation's Top Ten

Atlanta, August 31, 2004 Site Selection magazine has selected its Top Utilities for 2003. An annual competition based upon economic development performance in four categories — capital investment, job creation, capital investment per capita and jobs per 10,000 population — the award gauges the ability of energy companies to complement power delivery with the powers of persuasion and innovation in fostering corporate investment in their territories. Results are tallied from responses to Site Selection’s annual survey of utilities.

"These awards recognize those utilities that were able to attract substantial capital investment and new jobs to their service areas in 2003," says Mark Arend, editor of Site Selection. "Utilities play a key role as participants in the economic development efforts of cities, regions and all areas working to improve their local business climate. This year's Top Utilities were particularly successful in this endeavor in 2003."

Cincinnati-based Cinergy scored the highest overall ranking in the survey, followed by Mississippi Power, LG&E Energy, Alabama Power and TXU Electric Delivery. Noteworthy in this year’s results was the considerable heft of large parent corporations, whose marketing resources can pair with their transmission infrastructure to further energize a region’s appeal. The Top Utilities article also pays a special tribute to the role publicly owned utilities play in economic development.

The entire Top Utilities article, as well as the annual Utilities Directory, will appear in the September 2004 edition of Site Selection and at www.sitenet.com. Also featured in the issue:

• The 2004 Global Infrastructure Report, with in-depth coverage of major airport, seaport and land transportation projects and the corporate investment that follows;
• State and Area Spotlight articles including coverage of Florida, Northern California, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas, featuring an exclusive interview with Texas Gov. Rick Perry and an inside look at how Depository Trust & Clearing Corp. came to locate in Tampa;
• Industry Reviews looking at projects and trends in logistics, medical devices and semiconductors, featuring an exclusive interview with Robert LeFort, president of Infineon Technologies North America.

Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to 44,000 executives of fast-growing firms. The senior publication in the development field, Site Selection is also available via Site Selection Online (www.siteselection.com). SiteNet Dispatch, a weekly e-mail newsletter, goes to more than 22,000 industry professionals.

Conway Data is an international publishing and association management company headquartered in Atlanta. The firm manages the Industrial Asset Management Council, the Development Hall of Fame and the World Development Federation (WDF), offers consulting services and awards the annual Conway Safe Skies Award.

TOP TEN UTILITIES OF 2003