AT Atlantic Power Corporation

Alltel (NYSE: AT) is positioning service recovery teams and equipment today as Hurricane Rita bears down on the Texas and southwest Louisiana Gulf Coast. Displaced residents can place free calls anywhere in the country from an Alltel wireless store, get batteries charged and assistance with accessories or damaged phones. The storm is expected to make landfall Saturday morning and affect Alltel local telephone service to seven communities in the Galveston Bay area and Sugar Land, a Houston suburb. Alltel serves about 70,000 customer lines and has 60 employees in the area. In its wireless business, Alltel has closed retail stores in Baton Rouge, New Orleans and the Houma, La., area to prepare for the hurricane. Recovery teams are standing-by with portable generators, fuel and "switches on wheels" in the event the storm destroys local telephone call processing equipment. "We're prepared to move in and restore service to customers as soon as it is safe," said Kevin Beebe, president of operations for Alltel, "but our first concern is for our employees and their families. Our thoughts and prayers are with all people in the area who have been forced out of their homes." Alltel employees should call the company's human resource hotline at 1-866-905-0911 for assistance. For updates on stores and network restoration efforts, visit www.alltel.com. Customers can make donations to Hurricane Rita relief efforts by calling 1-888-2Alltel (255835). Hurricane Katrina donations also can be made at this number, or text message "give" to the number "24357" (2HELP). Wireless customers are encouraged to use text messaging to communicate as call volumes increase as the storm moves through the region. Customers also are encouraged to add an "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) number to their wireless phone address book. Under the ICE heading, enter a phone number for a relative or friend that police or paramedics should call if an emergency situation occurs. Alltel is a customer-focused communications company with more than 15 million customers in 36 states and nearly $10 billion in annual revenues. Alltel, NYSE: AT www.alltel.com