Penn West Energy Trust confirms April cash distribution

CALGARY, April 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - (TSX - PWT.UN; NYSE - PWE) Penn
West Energy Trust ("Penn West") confirms that its April 2009 cash distribution
will be CDN$0.15 per trust unit payable on May 15, 2009 to unitholders of
record on April 30, 2009. The ex-distribution date is April 28, 2009.
The CDN$0.15 per unit is equivalent to approximately US$0.12 per unit (before
deduction of any applicable Canadian withholding tax) using currency exchange
of one Canadian dollar equals US$0.80. Registered unitholders with U.S.
addresses will receive their distributions directly from Penn West's transfer
agent, and will be paid in U.S. currency using the exchange rate in effect on
the record date. Non-registered U.S. unitholders will receive their
distributions through their brokers.

Penn West trust units and debentures are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange
under the symbols PWT.UN, PWT.DB.B, PWT.DB.C, PWT.DB.D, PWT.DB.E and PWT.DB.F
and Penn West trust units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the
symbol PWE.

SOURCE Penn West Energy Trust

PENN WEST ENERGY TRUST, Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta,
T2P 1K3, Phone: (403) 777-2500, Fax: (403) 777-2699, Toll Free:
1-866-693-2707, Website: www.pennwest.com; Investor Relations: Toll Free:
1-888-770-2633, E-mail: investor_relations@pennwest.com, William Andrew, CEO,
Phone: (403) 777-2502, E-mail: bill.andrew@pennwest.com; Jason Fleury,
Manager, Investor Relations, Phone: (403) 539-6343, E-mail:
jason.fleury@pennwest.com