For Immediate Release

Pepco today announced estimates of emissions from operating its power plants in 1998. The announcement followed a news media briefing at the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) headquarters in Washington, D.C. where the investor-owned utilities' trade association issued nationwide emission data for the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). The TRI is a 10-year old federal database of information on the release and transfer of chemicals by private companies and government facilities as required by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Pepco's efforts to control, monitor and report its emissions are not new. What is new is the requirement to report emissions to the database. TRI covers more than 600 chemicals, of which approximately six encompass the majority of Pepco's releases. It also provides summary information on releases into the air, land and water or shipments of materials.

"As a utility that relies primarily on fossil fuels, we will produce significant levels of some TRI-listed materials, even though we continue to be in full compliance with all local and federal environmental laws and regulations, including the Clean Air Act, which are designed to protect human health and the environment. We hold at least two dozen permits that require government oversight of our operations, " said James S. Potts, Vice President of Environment at Pepco.

Pepco joined other utilities in the announcement as a precursor to the July 1, 1999 deadline for all electric utilities to submit their chemical releases from the production of electricity. The briefing highlighted the U.S. electric power industry's strong record of environmental compliance and innovative technology in producing cleaner, more efficient electricity.

Pepco is an investor-owned utility that operates five electric generating plants in the region including the District of Columbia, Montgomery and Prince George's counties, and Northern Virginia. These facilities use a combination of coal, oil and natural gas to produce electricity.

The following is the special newsletter sent to Pepco's 692,000 customers in their June bills that details Pepco's estimated TRI figures for each power plant:  http://www.pepco.com/news_lines_0699_sp.htm