Press Release

New York, NY) -- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) today announced that it has approved a $25,000 grant to the League of Women Voters in response to the League’s recent financial hardships that threatened to close its New York City office.

In addition, Con Edison will underwrite the printing of this year’s “They Represent You,” a directory published by the League to educate voters about their elected officials.

Founded in 1920, the League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization that works to ensure voter participation through voter registration, sponsoring candidates’ debates and disseminating nonpartisan election information. As an advocacy group, it promotes change at all levels of government through legislative and administrative action based on positions agreed upon by membership.

“For more than half a century, the League of Women Voters has worked diligently to ensure that every citizen in this country enjoys the privileges guaranteed by democracy,” said Frances Resheske, Con Edison’s vice president for Public Affairs. “We at Con Edison appreciate the opportunity to give something in return for this great service.

She added, “The value of an organization such as the League of Women Voters is particularly evident in a city as diverse as ours. Thousands of new citizens come to New York every year from all over the world. Many of them did not have the right to vote in their homeland. For these people and for all those eager to exercise their right to participate in our government the League of Women Voters is as much a symbol of hope as the Statue of Liberty.”

Katherine Flaherty, Director of the New York City League of Women Voters, said, “The League of Women Voters of the City of New York expresses deep gratitude and appreciation to Con Edison. As in previous years, this corporation has once again recognized the important civic contributions of the League of Women Voters by coming forward to generously cover the printing costs of the 2001 directory of elected officials, ‘They Represent You.’ At this financially critical time for the City League, the continuing generosity of Con Edison is crucial and timely as we can now proceed to publish this very important public service directory.”

There are 59 local Leagues of Women Voters throughout New York State. Membership, which is open to men and women, provides active involvement in local, state and national issues. To contact the League of Women Voters in New York State visit their web site at www.lwvny.org. or call (518) 465-4162.

Con Edison [NYSE: ED] is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc., one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $9 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 www.coned.com .

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Contact:
Brenda Pérez