Community Energy Recognizes NYSEG for Its Leadership in Offering Customers Clean, Wind-Generated Electricity

Binghamton, NY, February 4, 2004 – Community Energy, Inc., a leader in marketing wind-generated electricity, today recognized NYSEG and its Catch the Wind program, which offers energy consumers across the state the opportunity to buy wind energy. The recognition came today at a wind-energy leadership awards ceremony in Albany.

“Working in partnership with Community Energy, NYSEG is pleased to have earned the distinction of being the first utility in the state to offer wind energy to our customers," said Jim Laurito, NYSEG's president. "We continue to support the development of wind and other renewable energy sources. They are important elements in the state's energy mix."

NYSEG began offering its customers the opportunity to buy wind-generated electricity in August 2002. Nearly 3,000 residential and business customers – including NYSEG – are purchasing 28 million kilowatt-hours of wind-generated electricity a year through NYSEG’s Catch the Wind program.

For more information on NYSEG’s Catch the Wind program or to purchase wind-generated electricity, visit nyseg.com or contact NYSEG at 1.800.35.NYSEG (1.800.356.9734).

About NYSEG: NYSEG is a Rochester-based subsidiary of Energy East Corporation [NYSE:EAS], a super-regional energy services and delivery company in the Northeast. We serve 840,000 electricity customers and 250,000 natural gas customers across more than 40% of upstate New York. By providing outstanding customer service, promoting competition and focusing on growth, we will continue to be a valuable asset to the communities it serves. For more information visit nyseg.com.

About Community Energy: Community Energy is a leading marketer and developer of wind-generated electricity, under the NewWind Energy® brand. With support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Community Energy is opening up clean energy options throughout New York directly and in partnership with utilities including NYSEG. Community Energy customers include 15 of the 20 largest purchasers of wind-generated electricity in the nation. Community Energy has helped bring four new wind farms on line in the mid-Atlantic region, with more on the way as a result of emerging customer demand. For more information, go to www.CommunityEnergy.biz.