Press Release

NEW YORK, Oct. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fifth consecutive year, Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (NYSE: ED) (Con Edison) sponsored Green Horizons, a unique conference on environmental careers aimed at educating middle-school students about a wide range of natural resources professions. Three hundred middle school students and their guidance counselors spent a full day yesterday at the Staten Island Botanical Garden working with professionals from a variety of natural resource fields and visiting 22 different outdoor "field stations."

"Instead of sitting and listening to someone talk about jobs and careers, the students participate in hands-on activities that allow them to experience what it is like to be part of important environmental work," said Saddie L. Smith, vice president of Staten Island customer service for Con Edison.

The students also learned about high schools and colleges they can attend and suggested courses to take as they begin preparing for careers in the environment and natural resources fields.

"Educating these students about career choices that they may have never considered broadens their opportunities. By reaching both the guidance counselors and the students in junior high school, it enables them to plan an academic path that will steer the students toward fulfilling and interesting careers," said Smith.

The students met with professionals who climb and prune the trees on our streets and in our parks and others who prepare seedlings for planting in nurseries and gardens. There were those who "doctor" plants that are in trouble, or who catch animals in safe traps for study and release. They became acquainted with people who count and measure forests for better use of trees and for timber harvesting, and experts in designing gardens from vacant lots. Green Horizons was facilitated by the Magnolia Tree Earth Center as part of its Urban and Community Forestry Program.

Con Edison's internationally recognized environment, health and safety program extends into every part of the organization and recognizes the company's responsibility to protect the environment. The company has adopted an environmental policy that calls for going beyond compliance to achieve "environmental excellence." This commitment is exemplified by the company recently being honored by the U.S. Coast Guard with the William M. Benkert Award for Excellence in Marine Environmental Protection for vigilance in safeguarding the marine environment.

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with more than $8 billion in annual revenues and $16 billion in assets. The utility provides electric, gas and steam service to more than three 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 http://www.coned.com. SOURCE Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc.

CONTACT: Joseph Petta of Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc., 212-460-4111/