National Grid Celebrates Half-Way Point in Construction of Rhode Island Reliability Project

SMITHFIELD, RI (06/12/2012)(readMedia)-- With the ceremonial installation of one of the project's nearly 750 power line poles, National Grid today marked the half-way point in the construction schedule of the Rhode Island Reliability Project. The project is designed to strengthen the reliability of Rhode Island's power grid by increasing its capacity and allowing National Grid the flexibility to deliver electricity where it's needed when usage is at its highest.

The $250 million project, begun in 2010, includes the reconstruction of two existing transmission lines and the addition of a new transmission line within an existing 21-mile corridor running through North Smithfield, Smithfield, Johnston, Cranston, West Warwick and Warwick, Rhode Island.

Transmission lines carry electricity from power plants to local distribution systems where the voltage levels are reduced in stages to provide electricity to homes and businesses. The new transmission line will enable more electricity to flow into the state as needed to meet customers' needs.

"Our customers depend on National Grid to deliver electricity to them every minute of every day," said Timothy F. Horan, president, National Grid in Rhode Island. "That's why we're pleased to mark the half-way point in this project, which will improve the performance and reliability of the regional electric transmission system. We're also proud that the project has served as an economic engine for Rhode Island, providing jobs to more than 250 people and increasing property tax revenues to the communities through which this project passes."

Construction of the Rhode Island Reliability Project includes:

• Installation of more than 300 miles of power line
• Installation of nearly 750 new poles that support the power lines
• Removal of 125 older towers and poles
• Installation of new equipment at substations in North Smithfield and Warwick

The Rhode Island Reliability Project is one portion of a larger, regional transmission construction program that will enhance the delivery of electricity in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The permitting process for those projects is currently underway.

Throughout construction National Grid is taking great care to protect and enhance the environment by installing hardwood ("swamp") mats to protect wetlands and silt fences and straw bales to control water and sediment runoff. As construction is completed the swamp mats, construction materials and debris will be removed, the transmission corridor will be restored and staging and excavated areas will be reseeded to promote the natural re-growth of vegetation.

Completion of the Rhode Island Reliability Project is projected for fall 2013.

NATIONAL GRID

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE:NGG) is an electricity and gas company that connects consumers to energy sources through its networks. The company is at the heart of one of the greatest challenges facing our society - to create new, sustainable energy solutions for the future and developing an energy system that underpins economic prosperity in the 21st century. National Grid holds a vital position at the center of the energy system and it 'joins everything up'.

In the northeast US, we connect more than seven million gas and electric customers to vital energy sources, essential for our modern lifestyles. In Great Britain, we run the gas and electricity systems that our society is built on, delivering gas and electricity across the country.

National Grid delivers electricity to approximately 3.3 million customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Rhode Island. It manages the electricity network on Long Island under an agreement with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), and owns over 4,000 megawatts of contracted electricity generation, providing power to over one million LIPA customers. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in northeastern U.S., serving approximately 3.4 million customers in New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com.

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