New Yorkers: Stay Warm, Be Safe And Save Money NEW YORK, Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. (Con Edison) recommends that customers review and adopt a series of energy-saving and safety tips to reduce their gas and electric bills and to remain safe during the upcoming winter season. In preparation for the approaching winter season, Con Edison has obtained natural gas supplies for the company's 1.1 million gas customers, approximately 300,000 of whom use gas for home heating. Con Edison's service area for natural gas includes Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester and parts of Queens. Con Edison is also investing more than $185 million this year to upgrade, expand and secure its gas delivery system. The company will be replacing more than 120,000 feet of existing gas mains and installing 32,000 feet of new mains to ensure reliable gas service to customers. While energy supplies this year should be sufficient to meet demand through the winter months, the company is encouraging customers to use energy wisely. "The most effective way for customers to manage energy costs is to manage energy use," said Marilyn Caselli, senior vice president of customer operations for Con Edison. "Customers can save money by following simple cost- saving tips." Some tips for customers to follow this winter: - Set thermostat at 68 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night. Turning the thermostat back 10 percent to 15 percent eight hours a day can trim seasonal heating costs up to 10 percent. - Before the heating season begins, have the heating system cleaned and inspected by a qualified contractor. A clean, well-maintained system will operate more efficiently and use less fuel. - Turn off lights, computers, televisions and other appliances when not in use. - Caulk and weather-strip the spaces around doors and windows. - Remove items from around radiators, baseboard heaters and hot-air vents. - Use timers to turn lights on and off based on when no one is at home. - Be sure to properly insulate the attic. Since heat rises, adding a layer of insulation to the attic will conserve heat. - Visit Con Edison online at Customer Central (http://www.coned.com/customercentral) for additional energy-saving tips. Con Edison's Level Payment Plan helps customers to even out energy costs over the entire year. In addition, HEAP (Home Energy Assistant Program) grants are available for qualified New York state residents, and EnergyShare funds are available for qualified needy families. The company also educates consumers about the opportunity to comparison shop for an alternate energy supplier through PowerYourWay (http://www.poweryourway.com/). Customers who choose an alternate supplier by enrolling in PowerMove will save 7% off their energy costs for an introductory period. The company is also offering customers advice on how to keep their homes safe during the cold weather. Here are some tips that can contribute to a safe, accident-free environment. - Do not try to heat rooms with your range or oven. These appliances aren't designed for space heating. Using a range or oven can cause a fire. It can also deplete oxygen levels and cause a buildup of lethal carbon monoxide gas. - Be sure generators and appliances are properly adjusted and working to manufacturer's specifications and local building codes. Never operate a generator indoors. - All heating systems, vents, and flues should be inspected and cleaned annually by a qualified technician. - Never extinguish a pilot light. Blowing out the pilot doesn't stop gas from escaping. Don't create a gas leak to save a few pennies. Customers can learn more about energy-saving and safety tips by contacting the company's website at http://www.coned.com/ or calling 1-800-75CONED. Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED], one of the nation's largest investor-owned energy companies, with approximately $12 billion in annual revenues and $26 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/. DATASOURCE: Con Edison CONTACT: Michael Clendenin, +1-212-460-4111 Web site: http://www.conedison.com/ http://www.coned.com/ http://www.poweryourway.com/ http://www.coned.com/customercentral

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