Press Release

NEW YORK, July 27, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Con Edison said today that for the first time in the company's 123-year-history of delivering electricity, peak demand, the amount of electricity being used at a given time, has surpassed the 13,000-megawatt threshold. Electric usage in the company's service area of New York City and Westchester County hit 13,003 megawatts at 4:00 p.m., marking the third time in the past two weeks that a new record was set. Four of the top 10 electric peak loads of all time have been reached so far this summer, including a new record for the highest electricity demand ever on a June day.

Con Edison first reached the 10,000 megawatt mark in 1988, hit 11,000 megawatts in 1997, and broke the 12,000 megawatt barrier in 2001, just four years later. This unprecedented power demand comes as customers use more air conditioners, computers, printers, scanners, cell phone chargers, and other equipment both at home and in their offices. In 2004, the company estimated that its customers used more than 8 million televisions, 10.5 million cell phones, 2.5 million personal computers, and 5 million room air conditioners, with customers expected to install an additional 900,000 units over the next five years. In addition, last year, New York City issued approximately 19 percent more building permits than the previous year.

The Con Edison system delivers energy across a network of 92,000 miles of underground and 33,000 miles of overhead wires to approximately 9 million New York City and Westchester County residents. Throughout the current heat spell, the company continues to monitor its systems around the clock to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity.

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 $24 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 http://www.coned.com.

SOURCE Con Edison

Michael Clendenin of Con Edison, +1-212-460-4111