NEWS RELEASE FROM:

Angela Griffin, Manager of Marketing and Communications

EnerStar Electric Cooperative

11597 IL Hwy 1

Paris, IL 61944-8447

Telephone 217-463-4145

E-mail: agriffin@enerstar.com

www.enerstar.com

Wednesday, March 5, 2008 9:15 a.m.

     PARIS – EnerStar Electric Cooperative reports that only 150 members are still without power this morning. At the height of the winter storm yesterday, about a thousand co-op members were without power. Updates on the storm will be posted on the co-ops Web site at www.enerstar.com.

     EnerStar Electric’s Line Superintendent Mike Clark, says, “Outages are scattered throughout Edgar and Clark counties. The worst of the storm was in Clark county.”

Clark thanked the members for remaining patient. “An ice and snow outage like this can sometimes last for days. We know when it is cold like this it is difficult for our linemen and our members. We also realize the phone lines can be very busy during a major storm like this.” He added that the best way to report a power outage is to use the automated telephone answering system as it quickly processes information and does not tie up the telephone lines for other callers. To report an outage, Clark says to call 217-463-4145 or 800-635-4145.

     Safety is still Clark’s main concern. He says, “It is very slick out there and there may still be power lines down, or trees that could still fall into power lines. You can’t tell if a power line is energized or not just by looking at it. So if you see any downed power lines stay away and keep others away and call the co-op.”

Clark also urges members to be careful when using backup generators during an outage. Generators can cause carbon monoxide poisoning or back feed onto the power lines causing a hazard for linemen.

     EnerStar Electric Cooperative is a member of Touchstone EnergyÒ — an alliance of more than 660 local, consumer-owned electric utilities around the country. EnerStar Electric is committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than 5,332 members over 1,520 miles of line in parts of Clark, Coles, Douglas, Edgar and Vermilion counties. For more information visit www.enerstar.com.