Press Release

Tilton Elected to APPA Board of Directors

Raleigh, NC, June 24, 2004 ---- Jesse C. Tilton, III, Chief Executive Officer, ElectriCities of North Carolina, was elected to the Board of Directors of the American Public Power Association (APPA) at its National Conference in June in Seattle, Washington. Mr. Tilton was elected to a three-year term on the board.

APPA is the Washington, D.C.-based service organization representing the nation’s more than 2,000 community- and state-owned public power systems. Since 1940, it has provided services to ensure reliable electricity at a reasonable price, promoted proper protection of the environment, and advanced the public policy interests of its members and their consumers.

Tilton has made major contributions to public power nationally and in North Carolina and has been an outspoken advocate for public power. Earlier this week he received APPA’s James D. Donovan Individual Achievement Award, for his substantial contributions to the electric utility industry, with a special commitment to public power.

Tilton serves on APPA’s Advisory Committee, Government Relations Working Group, and the Legislative and Resolutions Committee. He has been an outspoken leader on national issues such as market power and tax-exempt financing. Tilton led ElectriCities during a statewide study of electric industry restructuring and through competitive enhancements. Tilton has capitalized on his lifetime of professional experience in the electric industry to develop and sustain strategic alliances and legislative solutions for North Carolina’s public power cities and towns. Under his leadership, both North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 and North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency received Community Service Awards from APPA.

Tilton has been the CEO of ElectriCities, North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1, and North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency since October 30, 1995. He earned a B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Alabama and an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from Auburn University. He has spent his entire professional career in the electric utility industry beginning with 12 years of service with Alabama Power Company. A senior management position with a mid-western generation and transmission power cooperative was his next assignment, followed by a CEO position with the Indiana Municipal Power Agency in 1982. His previous position was chief executive officer with the Pennsylvania Rural Electric Association and the Allegheny Electric Cooperative.

North Carolina’s more than 90 public power communities serve nearly one million residential, commercial and industrial customers. Member cities and towns both own and operate their electric systems. ElectriCities provides customer service and safety training, emergency and technical assistance, communications, government affairs and legal services. ElectriCities also provides management services to the state’s two municipal Power Agencies: North Carolina Municipal Power Agency Number 1 (NCMPA1) and North Carolina Eastern Municipal Power Agency (NCEMPA). Most member cities have been in the electric business for 100 years or more. For more information on ElectriCities log on to www.electricities.com.