For Immediate Release
September 16, 2005

Pepco line crews returned home from Mississippi this week, having made quick work of restoring power to Mississippi Power customers and earning well-deserved praise. "This effort was nothing short of miraculous," Mississippi Power President and CEO Anthony Topazi said in response to the destructive storm that left 100 percent of the company`s customers without power.

Sixty linemen, supervisors and support personnel from Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco helped restore service to the Meridian, Miss., area before moving south to Hattiesburg where much of the electric infrastructure had to be rebuilt. They were among more than 9,000 workers from 20 states and Canada who responded to the emergency.

George Gacser from PHI Emergency Preparedness said our crews worked efficiently and safely, often completing their restoration assignments in less time than Mississippi Power expected, in spite of difficult working and living conditions. By last Saturday, service had been restored to 169,000 of the 195,000 Mississippi customers who could take power. PHI crews were the last to be released and began heading home Sunday.

In a letter being sent to the returning crews, Chairman and CEO Dennis Wraase expressed his thanks and appreciation "for putting your lives and families on hold to travel south and help those most in need. Not only did you provide a helping hand, you completed your work safely and served as distinguished ambassadors for the company. I am proud of your efforts and proud of our company. Please accept my heartfelt thanks for a job well done."