CONTACT INFORMATION

PORTLAND, OREGON, January 26, 2004 - Western Energy Institute’s (WEI) 2004 leadership was recently elected by the WEI Board of Directors according to the regional association’s President, Terry Sullivan.

Elected as this year’s Chair is Peter G. Lund, Vice President of Pipeline Marketing and Development for Gas Transmission Northwest Corporation based in Portland, Oregon. Joining Lund on the Executive Committee are Chair-Elect, L.J. (Chip) U’Ren, Associate General Manager of the Salt River Project.

Other Executive Committee members include Past Chair (2003), R.L. (Randy) Jespersen, President, Terasen Gas Inc.; Treasurer, Richard A. Dyer, Jr., Director of Finance/Treasurer, Clark Public Utilities; Secretary, Terry Sullivan, President, WEI; Services Vice Chair, James M. Will, Client Services Executive, IBM Business Consulting. Vice Chairs at Large are: Gary G. Ely, Chairman, President and CEO of Avista Corporation; Walter M. Higgins, Chairman, President and CEO of Nevada Power Company; Michael O. Maffie, CEO, Southwest Gas Corporation; Enrique Martinez, COO/Power Systems, LA Department of Water & Power; Michael S. McCoy, Executive Vice President, NW Natural Gas; and Steven W. Snarr, Senior Counsel, Williams Northwest Pipeline.

"WEI is fortunate to have the commitment and guidance of these energy industry executives," said Sullivan. "They represent the highest level of leadership in our industry and have been instrumental in transforming WEI into the integrated energy association we have become."

WEI is a regional association serving the electric and gas industries to educate, develop skills and leadership, and facilitate information exchange and networking among employees of its 38-member energy companies. Based in Portland, Oregon, WEI was formed in 2000 from two longstanding industry associations; the Western Electric Power Institute, founded in 1908, and the Pacific Coast Gas Association (founded 1893). For more information go to www.westernenergy.org.

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