Efficiency Maine's Bergeron Elected to Board of Leading Regional Energy Efficiency Organization; One of five new directors chosen by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships.

LEXINGTON, Mass. -- Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. (NEEP), a leading regional energy efficiency organization serving New England, New York and the Mid-Atlantic states, has elected five new members to its board of directors, including Denis Bergeron, director of energy programs division at the Maine Public Utilities Commission (also known as Efficiency Maine).

"Denis brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge that will complement our current board and provide us with new insights as we fulfill our mission of promoting energy efficiency in homes, buildings and industry throughout the Northeast," noted Ashok Gupta of the Natural Resources Defense Council, who was re-elected president of the NEEP board.

Bergeron has been with the Maine PUC for more than 15 years. During his tenure, he has worked on energy issues and policies related to both the electrical and gas utility industries. He has served as the chair for the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners' Energy Policy Group during the rewrite of New England's wholesale electricity market rules and creation of the New England ISO.

"These are exciting times in the energy efficiency industry, and I am honored to join a leadership organization such as NEEP," stated Bergeron. "The recent board additions demonstrate NEEP's commitment to its mission with the establishment of a strong executive support system."

In addition to Gupta, also re-elected to executive leadership positions on the NEEP board of directors were: Christopher Joannides of Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) as vice president; Laura McNaughton of National Grid as treasurer; and Daniel Sosland of Environment-Northeast as clerk. The complete NEEP board of directors for 2004 includes:

--Ashok Gupta, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, N.Y.

--Christopher Joannides, PSE&G, Newark, N.J.

--Laura McNaughton, National Grid, Northborough, Mass.

--Daniel Sosland, Environment Northeast, Rockport, Maine

--Susan Coakley, Executive Director, NEEP, Lexington, Mass.

--Stephen Cowell, Conservation Services Group, Westborough, Mass.

--Brian Henderson, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Albany, N.Y.

--Steven Nadel, American Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Washington, D.C.

--Richard Sedano, Regulatory Assistance Project, Montpelier, Vt.

--Barbara Kates-Garnick, KeySpan Energy Delivery, Brooklyn, N.Y.

--Michael Winka, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, N.J.

--Dan Zaweski, Long Island Power Authority, Uniondale, N.Y.

--Denis Bergeron, Efficiency Maine, Augusta, Maine

--John Mutchler, Northeast Utilities, Hartford, Conn.

--Penelope McLean-Conner, NSTAR Gas & Electric, Westwood, Mass.

About NEEP

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, Inc. (NEEP) is a regional nonprofit organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to promote energy efficiency in homes, buildings and industry in the Northeast U.S. through regionally coordinated programs and policies that increase the use of energy efficient products, services and practices, and that help achieve a cleaner environment and a more reliable and affordable energy system. For more information, please visit www.neep.org.