First Annual 'Top Power Plants' Survey Published by Platts POWER Magazine.

Business Editors

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 23, 2002

The editors of POWER magazine, published by Platts, along with database managers at Platts have compiled data and performed detailed analysis on leading power plants rated at 300 megawatts (MW) and above.

Platts is the energy information, research, consulting and marketing services unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP).

The survey covers US coal- and oil/gas-fired steam stations and simple- and combined-cycle gas-turbine plants, plus nuclear units worldwide. The survey identifies those facilities doing the best job of managing operating costs, improving thermal efficiency, and controlling emissions.

According to the survey, combined-cycle plants achieving the highest efficiency for calendar year 2001 are (plant name/operating company): LOUISIANA 1/Entergy Gulf States Inc., SOUTH POINT/Calpine Mohave, HIDALGO/Calpine Corp., MAINE INDEPENDENCE/Casco Bay Energy Co., ROSENBERG/San Antonio Public Service Board.

Other ratings include coal-fired plants with the lowest sulfur dioxide emissions during 2001: NAVAJO/Salt River Project, CLOVER/Dominion Virginia Power, INTERMOUNTAIN/Intermountain Power Agency, BONANZA/Deseret Generation & Transmission Co-op, REID GARDNER/Nevada Power Co.

Nuclear plants with the best productivity (highest unit capacity factor during the three-year period, 1999-2001) include: LIMERICK-1/PECO Energy Co., BYRON-2/Exelon Generation Co. LLC, BRAIDWOOD-1/Exelon Generation Co. LLC, BROWNS FERRY-3/Tennessee Valley Authority, LASALLE-1 Exelon Generation Co. LLC.

A map showing the top plants can be obtained in the Platts.com press room at www.platts.com/pressroom/index.shtml.

Additional survey results can be obtained by calling 609-426-5667 and requesting a copy of the August 2002 edition of POWER magazine, volume 146, number 5. Subscriptions to POWER magazine are available for qualified executives and engineering and supervising personnel in electric utilities, independent generating companies, consulting engineering firms, process industries and other manufacturing industries.

For further information on POWER magazine, or to inquire about the survey, visit www.platts.com/engineering.

Platts is the world's largest and most authoritative provider of energy information and marketing services, with 14 offices worldwide. Products range from real-time and Internet-based news and price assessment services, to newsletters, market reports, databases, geospatial tools, magazines, conferences, research and consulting services and energy financial services. Platts offerings cover the oil, natural gas, electricity, nuclear power, coal, petrochemical and metals markets. Every day, more than $10 billion of trading activity and term contract sales are based on Platts' price assessments. Additional information is available at www.platts.com and www.plattsmetals.com.

Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies is a global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, BusinessWeek and McGraw-Hill Education. The Corporation has more than 350 offices in 33 countries. Sales in 2001 were $4.6 billion. Additional information is available at www.mcgraw-hill.com.