State's Natural Gas Utilities Support Work Zone Safety Awareness Week 

Bridgeport, CT April 8, 2002 - The state's three natural gas utilities, Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation (CNG), Southern Connecticut Gas Company (SCG) and Yankee Gas Services Company are proud supporters of "Work Zone Safety Awareness Week" April 8 - 12, in Connecticut. Spearheaded by the Connecticut Department of Transportation (ConnDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration, "Work Zone Safety Awareness Week" was developed to remind motorists to be especially cautious when driving through highway work zones.

To show its support for the event, CNG, SCG and Yankee Gas will display "Slow Down For Work Zones" bumper stickers on all of their work vehicles. In addition, all three utilities are including information about "Work Zone Safety" in all customers' bills, and are providing the same information to their employees. Representatives from the three utilities are attending Lt. Gov. Jodi Rell's press conference at the Middletown I-91 Rest Area to kick off the week-long event.

According to ConnDOT, more than 8,000 fatalities have been reported in work zones across the country during the past 10 years, and in 2000 alone, there were 1,093 fatalities, up 26 percent from the 868 killed in 1999.

This week, Connecticut drivers can expect to see billboards and highway variable message signs advising them to "Slow Down for Work Zones". The State Police are also enforcing speed limits at construction and maintenance work sites through "Operation Big Orange".

Yankee Energy System, Inc., (YES) which is part of the Northeast Utilities system, includes Yankee Gas Services Company, the largest natural gas distribution company in Connecticut serving approximately 191,000 customers in 70 cities and towns throughout the state. Yankee Energy also includes Yankee Energy Financial Services Company, which provides a full range of residential and commercial energy equipment financing options. Further information about YES can be obtained from its Web sites: www.yankeeenergy.com, www.yankeegas.com and www.yankeefinancialservices.com.

Connecticut Natural Gas Corporation, a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation (NYSE:EAS), provides natural gas service to approximately 150,000 customers in the Greater Hartford and New Britain areas and Greenwich. For more information visit www.cngcorp.com.

The Southern Connecticut Gas Company, a subsidiary of Energy East Corporation (NYSE:EAS), provides natural gas service to approximately 167,000 customers in the Fairfield, New Haven and Middlesex counties. For more information visit www.soconngas.com.

Contact:
Robert Brennan
Director, Public Affairs
Connecticut Natural Gas/Southern Conn. Gas
(203) 795-7739
rbrennan@soconngas.com