Earth Hour Nets Positive Results; New Yorkers Shave Off 65 Megawatt Hours

NEW YORK – New Yorkers trimmed their electrical use by approximately 65 megawatt hours (MWh) over a 90-minute period on Saturday night during Earth Hour, compared to a similar day last year. The energy savings is equivalent to powering 65,000 homes.

Con Edison control room operators reported that while Earth Hour was scheduled between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., New Yorkers began shutting off lights and other electrical devices starting at 8 p.m. Con Edison engineers noted that the energy savings lasted until approximately 9:30 p.m.

Con Edison joined forces with the World Wildlife Fund, the organizers of Earth Hour, to encourage New Yorkers to turn off non-essential lights and electrical appliances. The company also shut off clock tower lights at its main office, 4 Irving Place, during the event.

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $14 billion in annual revenues and $33 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than 3 million customers in New York City and Westchester County, New York. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit Con Edison’s Web site at www.conEd.com.