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LIPA and the Town of Babylon Working Together to Make Babylon Wire Friendly

Wyandanch, NY—April 6, 2006—Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) Chairman Richard M. Kessel today presented a $1,000 rebate check to Babylon Town Supervisor Steve Bellone. LIPA’s “Wire Friendly Tree” program rebates municipalities for the planting of wire friendly trees. To date LIPA has rebated over $130,000 for the planting of 5,200 wire friendly trees throughout Long Island.

As part of its “Downtown Revitalization Project” in Wyandanch, the Town of Babylon in partnership with LIPA planted 100 wire friendly trees at various locations including the Pinelawn sub-station, Wyandanch High School and at the Wyandanch train station.

Wire friendly trees are crucial to the reliability of LIPA’s electric system. Almost 90% of electric service interruptions result from tree limb contact with overhead electric wires. LIPA’s encourages the planting of shorter “wire friendly” trees that reduces the likelihood of tree or branch contact.

“LIPA’s overhead electric system continues to lead New York State in reliability,” said LIPA Chairman Richard M. Kessel. “This is due in large part to the success of LIPA’s wire friendly tree and forestry programs. LIPA strongly urges all of its customers to plant wisely and plant wire friendly trees”

To learn more about wire friendly trees and LIPA’s Line Clearance Program visit LIPA’s Web site at www.lipower.org or to receive a brochure on LIPA’s Forestry Program call 1 (800) 490-0075.