CEG Constellation Energy Grp. Common Stock

Constellation Energy's Holland Energy Facility Recognized for Safety by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) EFFINGHAM, Ill., April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG) today announced that its Holland Energy Power Plant, near Effingham, Ill., has been recognized for its outstanding safety program by achieving Star status under the Occupational Safety and Heath Administration's (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). Star is the highest safety designation given by OSHA and the federal government. The facility plans to celebrate this outstanding achievement on April 12 during a ceremony which will include the presentation of the VPP Star flag by a regional representative of OSHA. Holland Energy is a natural gas-fueled power plant which can produce 650 megawatts of electricity. Since the plant began commercial operation in 2002, Holland's focus has been on safety. Twenty full-time employees operate the facility and drive the safety programs and culture that has contributed to Holland's impressive safety record. Holland Energy's safety committee was Started when the plant began operating to help familiarize contractors with the safety issues specific to operating a power plant. To ensure all employees have the opportunity to master the plant's systems and procedures, each employee is responsible for administering safety training at the site's monthly meetings. These safety programs and others have resulted in more than three years worked without a Restricted Work Case or a Lost Time Case, as well as more than 135,200 hours worked since the last recordable injury at the facility. OSHA has recognized the initiative taken by Holland's employees to establish effective programs and enforce a safety culture at the facility with the administration's most prestigious safety honor. OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program began in 1979 and is designed as a cooperative effort among industry, workers and government to ensure safer workplaces in the U.S. By approving safely operating facilities such as Holland Energy into the VPP, OSHA officially recognizes the outstanding efforts of employers and employees who have achieved exemplary occupational safety and health. Out of the 7 million private industries in the country, only 1,100 are approved into the Voluntary Protection Program. Approved facilities are designated under one of three categories, with Star being the highest. Aside from Holland, only one other power generating facility in Illinois is recognized as a Star facility. "Star status is extremely difficult to achieve," said Csilla Misner, OSHA's Region 5 Volunteer Protection Program Manager. "It's especially challenging for a facility like Holland considering the naturally dangerous work environment. Also, because it is a relatively small site with few employees and limited resources, it takes a consistent team effort to operate safely. Holland Energy is a very impressive plant." Holland was officially notified it had received Star status in September. Applications for OSHA recognition are accepted from various work-sites and assessed based on established VPP standards for a managed safety and health system. Applicants are verified through an application review and a thorough onsite evaluation performed by OSHA safety and health experts. Holland began the application for the VPP program more than a year ago. They successfully completed the "book length" application and hosted a three and one-half day site visit from OSHA officials this summer. Now, as a member of the Star program, Holland must provide OSHA with annual self evaluations in addition to receiving periodic on-site reevaluations in order to retain its program membership. "More than anything this recognition is a testament to the 20 employees at Holland - to their hard work and commitment to safety," said Barry Hatfield, Holland General Manager. "They're the ones looking out for each other every single day - they're the real Stars in this." Constellation Energy (http://www.constellation.com/), a Fortune 200 company based in Baltimore, is the nation's leading competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and is the nation's largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns or co-owns 108 generating units at 35 locations in 11 states, totaling approximately 12,500 megawatts of generating capacity. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. In 2004, the combined revenues of the integrated energy company totaled $12.5 billion. DATASOURCE: Constellation Energy CONTACT: Kevin Thornton, Constellation Energy, +1-410-787-5244, Web site: http://www.constellation.com/ Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/084087.html

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