ADVISORY/Historic Helms Bakery Building to Begin Operation of Solar Systems; Projects Supported Through LADWP's Solar Power Incentive Program -- Excellent Visuals.

News Editors/Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Saturday (Feb. 1)

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

WHAT:    Marking a "solarbration" that combines the old and the new,
         officials will flip the switch to begin operating a solar
         electric system at the historic Helms Bakery Building in Los
         Angeles. The 20-kilowatt (kW) system, installed atop of a
         shade carport with the assistance of Los Angeles Department
         of Water and Power (LADWP) rebates, will provide clean,
         renewable electricity for outdoor and common area lighting,
         plus to power charging stations for zero-emission electric
         vehicles (including one driven by the building's owner).

         The owners of the Helms Bakery Building next will install a
         120-kW system (scheduled for completion in 2003) on the roof
         of its main Bakery building within the 11-acre site that once
         housed Southern California's most famous bakery, and today
         hosts a wide array of furniture retailers that provide home
         and office furnishings and accessories.

         LADWP's Solar Incentive Program, designed to support the use
         of the sun's clean, renewable energy, covered approximately
         48 percent of the cost of the initial solar panel
         installation at the Helms Bakery Building. The 20-kW system,
         featuring 288 solar panels, is expected to save the facility
         $5,000 annually in electricity costs. Solar Electrical
         Systems of Westlake Village designed and installed the
         panels.

         The "solarbration" event also will be open to the public,
         with the first 250 guests receiving free energy-saving
         compact fluorescent bulbs.

WHEN:    Saturday, Feb. 1, 2003
         11 a.m.

WHERE:   Helms Bakery Building
         8800 Venice Boulevard at Helms Avenue
         Los Angeles, Calif. 90034 (east of Robertson Boulevard)

WHO:     Scheduled speakers include:

         -- Los Angeles City Councilmember Nate Holden
         -- Lillian Kawasaki, LADWP Assistant General Manager
         -- Angelina Galiteva, LADWP Executive Director of Green LA
            Programs
         -- Wally Marks, Helms Bakery Building Owner