Press Release

Con Edison Communications Signs 15,000 Sq-Ft Lease In Long Island City

Facility Will House Sophisticated Testing Lab, Operations and Engineering Specialists

NEW YORK, Feb. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- To accommodate the expansion of its newly-franchised broadband connectivity business, Con Edison Communications, Inc. (CEC) has leased 15,000 square feet of office space in Long Island City, Queens. The offices are located at 29-76 Northern Blvd., adjacent to Queens Plaza.

The new location will house a state-of-the-art testing facility for evaluation and set up of connections and equipment prior to customer installation. The offices will also be staffed with engineering and operations specialists.

CEC, a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED) is installing a carrier-grade fiber-optic network throughout the five boroughs of New York City and Westchester that will connect telecommunications and Internet service carriers to more than 1,000 buildings. CEC plans to install 112,000 fiber-strand miles (460 route miles) of state-of-the-art fiber-optic cable by 2005 to accommodate the rapidly growing demand for fiber-optic cable in the Northeast Corridor.

Peter Rust, president and CEO of Con Edison Communications, said, ``CEC's reliable broadband network will enhance New York's telecommunications and Internet service infrastructure. As a New York company, we believe it's important for us to broaden our presence in the city, and the Queens location reinforces that goal.''

Since receiving its franchise license last October, CEC has been installing its fiber-optic network, beginning in Westchester and downtown Manhattan. Its existing hub at 111 Eighth Avenue serves as the site from which customers can easily connect with other network providers. Additional hubs are planned for lower Manhattan and Brooklyn.

About Con Edison Communications, Inc.

Con Edison Communications, Inc. (CEC) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. CEC, a carrier's carrier, will offer a comprehensive range of value-added products and services designed to enhance the performance of its customers' networks. CEC will provide managed data transport services, leased capacity services, and plans to offer in-building optical distribution to multiple classes of customers including long-distance carriers, competitive local exchange carriers and Internet, cable, wireless and video companies. CEC is installing and will operate a state-of-the-art fiber optic network in the NYC metro area connecting approximately 1,000 buildings by year-end 2005. More information is available at http://www.electricfiber.com.

About Consolidated Edison, Inc.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED) is one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $9 billion in annual revenues and $16 billion in assets. The company provides a wide range of energy-related products and services to its customers through two regulated utility subsidiaries and four competitive energy and telecommunications businesses. For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit the Consolidated Edison, Inc. web site at http://www.conedison.com/.

SOURCE: Con Edison Communications, Inc.