Private donations to Good Neighbor Energy Fund up 20 percent in Delaware from last year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Bridget A. Shelton, (302) 283-5808

"The public's support is our blessing," says Delaware's Salvation Army chief

WILMINGTON, DE - Delawareans have reached deep into their pockets this winter heating season to assist more low-income families with their energy bills, according to figures recently released on Conectiv's Good Neighbor Energy Fund, a charitable fund administered by the Salvation Army.

BY THE NUMBERS

GOOD NEIGHBOR ENERGY FUND IN DELAWARE
(Oct. 2004 to mid-Feb. 2005)

Private donations collected: $47,594.00
Corporate donations: $20,000 (Conectiv)
Total disbursed to eligible Delaware residents: $25,725.49
Number of Delaware households served: 95
Number of Delaware residents served: 276
Average amount of assistance: $270.79
Household reason for need: 63, family hardship; 13, handicapped/disabled; and7, elderly

Since October, the Good Neighbor Energy Fund has received approximately $48,000 in private donations and an additional $20,000 from the fund's corporate sponsor, Conectiv Power Delivery. That means approximately $68,000 has been donated to the fund, which assists low-income families in Delaware with their energy bills. Last year at this time the fund had amassed about $40,000 in private donations compared to the $48,000 received so far this year - a 20 percent increase.

"We are very fortunate to have both the public and corporate support needed to make a difference in the lives of those who struggle to pay their heating bill," said Major Philip DeMichael of the Salvation Army's Delaware chapter. "And I know those helped by the fund this winter heating season are extremely thankful."

Conectiv officials said they were most pleased with the increased number of private donations to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund.

"We applaud our customers for their generosity," said Gary Stockbridge, vice president of Customer Relations for Conectiv Power Delivery. "It's a tough year for a lot of folks so these donations - and more - are desperately needed."

The Good Neighbor Energy Fund has assisted low-income households with their energy costs for more than 23 years. The fund is sponsored by Conectiv, which matches contributions to the fund by giving $1 for every $3 donated, and is administered by the Salvation Army. In the past, Conectiv set its contribution ceiling at $70,000. But the power company increased that ceiling to $100,000 for the 2005 winter heating season due to sharp increases in natural gas prices.

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Conectiv Power Delivery, a subsidiary of Pepco Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: POM), provides safe, reliable and affordable regulated electric or natural gas delivery services to more than one million customers in New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia.