FLEX YOUR POWER AT THE PUMP

ALAMEDA, Calif., August 1, 2004 — You may not enjoy getting bills, but at least the monthly missive from Alameda Power & Telecom isn't an unpleasant surprise. We take pride in our steady rates. If only the same could be said for gasoline these days.

Of course, gasoline prices always go up during the summer driving season. This year's sticker shock at the pump is exacerbated by higher costs to import oil and to refine it to meet California's clean-burning standards. Reducing gasoline consumption is the obvious solution, but who wants to stay home this time of year?

A few simple steps can help save gasoline costs by allowing your car or truck to use gasoline more efficiently:

• Keep tires properly inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure.
• Change oil and air filters according to schedule.
• Use the car's air conditioner selectively.
• Observe speed limits, accelerate smoothly and brake gradually for improved mileage.
• Minimize idling.

At Alameda Power & Telecom, we're also taking steps to use less gasoline. We keep all 60 of the vehicles in our fleet in top working order through a scheduled maintenance plan. Twenty vehicles - one-third of our fleet - are alternative fuel vehicles such as hybrid and methanol-fueled automobiles, dual-fuel compressed natural gas (CNG) trucks, propanepowered forklifts, and our famous, all-electric Sparrow.

When we save gasoline, you save money. Plus, vehicles that run on clean-burning methanol, CNG, and, the cleanest of all, electricity, reduce pollution.

In response to this summer's higher fuel costs, the state government has asked local government, businesses, and nonprofit organizations to participate in a new program called "Flex Your Power at the Pump." Alameda Power & Telecom is proud to be a participant.

We've already met the requirements of the program's Step One with policies already in place, such as our fleet maintenance plan, employee ride sharing program, and support systems for employees who ride public transportation or bicycles to work. Soon, we will take on the next steps in the Flex Your Power at the Pump program by providing additional education in automobile maintenance and driving techniques to reduce gasoline consumption.

Flex Your Power at the Pump follows California's successful Flex Your Power program that yielded millions of dollars in reduced energy costs. Through Flex Your Power's outreach, one out of every three California households and over 25 percent of California businesses lowered electricity bills by over 20 percent. Flex Your Power at the Pump promises even more winning results for our state.

For more information on Alameda Power & Telecom's commitment to reducing gasoline consumption, call 748-3949. For information on California's Flex Your Power at the Pump program, including information on gasoline pricing, reformulated gasoline, and tips to reduce gasoline use, call Leanne Hoadley at 415-771-7571 Ext. 317 or visit www.fypower.org.