Press Release - Powersense Environmental Excellence Award

Better lighting, better ice at a lower electrical price

Creston, BC – October 5^th, 2005 – FortisBC Inc. today presented a PowerSense Environmental Excellence award to The Creston & District Community Complex in recognition of outstanding contributions to the environment and a sustainable economy. The award is given annually to FortisBC customers who save 100,000 kWh or greater through energy efficient construction or upgrades to their facilities. Joe Chirico, Director of Recreation for the complex accepted the award.

FortisBC PowerSense is extremely pleased that the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) and the community complex took the time to study their energy usage at the rink and put together a plan to reduce their electrical consumption. Too often the initial capital investment prevents facility mangers and owners from exploring energy efficiency options. This is one example where the RDCK showed commitment to the community by driving down their electrical consumption while showing good return on their investment in energy efficiency technologies.

Adding a new smaller pony pump to reduce the costs of running the ice plant, new lighting, and heat recovery off the compressors are among some of the measures that combined to save the complex over 300,000 kWh annually which translates into around $15,000 a year in electrical savings and enough energy to power approximately 25 homes.

FortisBC has also contributed over $14,000 in PowerSense rebates to the project while monitoring the electrical consumption at the complex over the last year to verify the power savings.

Director of Recreation, Joe Chirico, has been pleased with the results he has seen so far: “I know our complex runs better, looks better and I have seen the results on the bills, both electric and gas. We have already begun discussions as to how we can partner together with FortisBC’s PowerSense group to look at operating costs and energy efficiency should a new pool be built in Creston.”

FortisBC also presented the complex with a gift of a Vending Miser. This product reduces the operating costs of running vending machines. Blair Weston, PowerSense Technical Advisor for FortisBC in the Kootenays, says he likes to give items such as these out as examples of innovative ways of lowering electrical consumption.

“At FortisBC we like to be a resource to residents and businesses to answer questions about energy efficiency and what can be done to lower their electrical bills. Being knowledgeable on the latest technologies and making the public aware of new ideas is one way we can accomplish this.”

FortisBC’s PowerSense program is available to all FortisBC direct and indirect customers to help them conserve electricity in their homes and businesses. For more information about the PowerSense program, call 1-800-363-3330.

FortisBC is an integrated utility operating in the southern interior of British Columbia, serving over 148,000 customers directly and indirectly. The utility has four hydroelectric generating plants with a combined capacity of 205 megawatts and over 6,500 kilometers of transmission and distribution power lines. FortisBC employs approximately 500 people in BC and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fortis Inc. – a diversified, international electric utility holding company based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, with assets exceeding $4 billion and annual revenues of approximately $1.2 billion. The Common Shares, Series C First Preference Shares and Series E First Preference Shares of Fortis Inc. are traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols FTS, FTS.PR.C and FTS.PR.E, respectively. Fortis Inc. information can be accessed at www.fortisinc.com .

For further information contact:

Blair Weston

Technical Advisor PowerSense

FortisBC Inc.

Tel: (250) 368 0509

www.fortisbc.com

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