Press Release

NEW YORK, June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) is offering free, programmable thermostats to residential customers and religious institutions with central air conditioning to help manage their electricity consumption during the summer.

The high-tech thermostats allow customers in New York City and Westchester County to program their air conditioning manually, or remotely via computer. When electricity use is highest in our region, Con Edison will be able to control the thermostats to help save electricity and ensure continuous, reliable power throughout the region.

The goal of the program is to allow Con Edison to reduce electricity use -- not turn off the participating customers' central air conditioning systems -- when energy demand is highest. Participants also can override Con Edison's remote programming.

Residential customers or religious institutions may obtain the programmable thermostat and free installation by calling toll-free, 1-866-521-8600 or online at http://www.coned.com/cool .

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE: ED), one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $10 billion in annual revenues and $17 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 .