Northeast Utilities Initiates Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure

Federal Grant Assistance Is Sought for New England's First Network of Charging
Stations for Plug-In Electric Vehicles

BERLIN, Conn., April 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Northeast Utilities (NYSE:
NU) announced today it is in the initial stages of developing an electric
charging infrastructure for plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) in Connecticut and
Massachusetts. The initiative supports regional and national policy goals
which include reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reliance on
petroleum-based resources.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060728/NORTHEASTUTILOGO )

In a recent application for a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) grant, two NU
operating companies, The Connecticut Light & Power Company (CL&P) and Western
Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECO), are proposing to build a network of
575 charging stations over the next two years. The plan calls for a
geographically diverse combination of home-based, workplace and
publicly-accessible sites in the utilities' existing service territories. The
companies are collaborating with New England-based Environment Northeast, the
Greater New Haven Clean Cities Coalition, and the Town of West Hartford,
Conn., on key aspects of the project including location selection and results
monitoring.

"We see extraordinary potential in electric transportation as one of the tools
to help meet the environmental and energy policy objectives of our regional
and national leaders," said James B. Robb, NU senior vice president of
enterprise planning and development. "As the next generation of vehicles gets
introduced, likely late in 2010, we want to be sure that New England is among
the first markets. The development of a charging infrastructure is important,
both to support the adoption of these exciting new vehicles and to allow us to
assess the impact on our electric distribution system."

"For sustainable technologies such as alternative fuel vehicles to really take
hold and deliver significant benefits, a collaborative effort between policy
makers, businesses and other stakeholders is required," said State
Representative Vickie Nardello, House chair for the Connecticut General
Assembly's Energy & Technology Committee. "NU's program is a necessary
catalyst and part of the forward-thinking solutions we must embrace for a
viable and sustainable future."

"Plug-in hybrids and other electric vehicles are going to be important
components of our green energy future, but they won't work without a network
of charging stations. I applaud Northeast Utilities for looking into the
future and making this initial proposal to meet that need in their service
territories," said Philip Giudice, Commissioner of the Massachusetts
Department of Energy Resources.

NU has been working with the Electric Power and Research Institute (EPRI) in a
collaborative effort to understand the utility impacts of plug-in electric
vehicles. As part of NU's strategies for carbon reduction and sustainability,
the company has several other forward-looking initiatives under way. In
particular, the EV charging network complements the Smart Grid pilots at CL&P
and WMECO, and is consistent with the planned expansion of company energy
efficiency programs. "In addition, our transmission development program,
which will facilitate the integration of low-carbon energy into the New
England power supply, provides even more leverage to the environmental
benefits of electric vehicles," noted Robb.

The DOE's decision is expected in June 2009. NU's application requested
federal funding of $693,750 which is fifty percent of the project's total
estimated cost of $1,387,500. "This is an initial proposal and we will be
developing more specifics of the program over the summer, including
substantial outreach to various stakeholders to help us maximize the impact of
the grant," Robb said. "We are also examining opportunities to participate
with other stakeholders in additional federal grant opportunities to advance
the electrification of transportation."

"Electric vehicles have the potential to provide significant climate benefits
and reduce our dependence on foreign oil," said Michael Stoddard, deputy
director of Environment Northeast (ENE), a non-profit organization focused on
efforts to combat global warming with solutions that promote clean energy,
clean air and healthy forests. "ENE looks forward to collaborating on this
initiative and expects that it will provide public interest in electric
vehicles and will yield valuable information about how these vehicles work in
the real world."

Several car manufacturers have announced roll-out plans for their new plug-in
EV models, with expected "miles-per-gallon-equivalent" ratings of at least 80
to 150 MPGe. According to Stoddard, the near-term availability of new EVs in
New England will depend on how "plug-in ready" our states and communities are.
This initiative, potential tax incentives and other favorable state and local
policies are important factors in speeding the arrival of electric vehicles
onto the streets of New England.

"In addition to their home-based charging set-up, buyers of electric vehicles
and hybrid electric vehicles want access to other reliable charging sites for
optimal driving distance," said Lee Grannis of the Greater New Haven Clean
Cities Coalition and lead coordinator of Clean Cities' project participation
across Connecticut and Massachusetts. "In the case of all-electric vehicles,
replacing 'range fear' with peace of mind for hundred-plus mile trips is key
if we want interested consumers and the region as a whole to realize the
benefits of electric vehicle technology. We also need information to design a
robust grid that is structured to take on the demand of thousands of plug-in
hybrid vehicles in the near future," Grannis added.

For more information on NU's project partners or plug-in electric vehicles,
visit these suggested sites:

-- www.eere.energy.gov/cleancities (U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy
Efficiency
& Renewable Energy);
-- www.env-ne.org (Environment Northeast)
-- www.afdc.energy.gov/afdc/vehicles/hybrid_electric.html (U.S. Dept of
Energy, Alternative Fuels Data Center)
-- www.greencarcongress.com

-- www.projectgetready.com

Northeast Utilities, a Fortune 500 energy company with headquarters in
Connecticut, operates New England's largest energy delivery system. NU is
committed to safety, reliability, environmental leadership and stewardship,
and expanding energy options for its more than 2 million electricity and
natural gas customers. For more information on Northeast Utilities and its
subsidiaries, visit www.nu.com.

SOURCE Northeast Utilities

Al Lara of Northeast Utilities, +1-860-665-5527