Utility Communicators International Awards Wisconsin Public Service Top Utility Communicator Honors

Business Wire, August 11, 2005

AUSTIN, Texas -- The top utility communicator in the United States is Wisconsin Public Service, says Utility Communicators International (UCI), which recently announced the winners of the annual Better Communications Competition, the advertising profession's oldest continuous creative communications competition in America.

The small Green Bay, Wisconsin utility beat dozens of gas, electric, water and telephone utilities, including some of the nation's largest energy corporations, for the top honor at the association's annual meeting at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC.

"Wisconsin Public Service's creative consistency and integration of marketing, conservation, public relations and image campaigns clearly makes it one of the best utility communication organizations in the country," said Connie Blalock, chairman of the competition and manager of advertising of Alagasco.

"Utility communications continue to be vital to business success," said Blalock, "and clear and memorable communications is one of the keys. Wisconsin Public Service's internal and external communications exemplifies the best."

Other top utility communicators in the contest include SRP in Phoenix, Arizona; PG&E in San Francisco, California; Dominion in Richmond, Virginia; Gulf Power in Pensacola, Florida; and Savannah Electric in Savannah, Georgia. For a complete list of winners, visit UCI's website at http://www.uci-online.com.

UCI is an international association of communication professionals from electric and gas utilities, telephone companies and water companies, advertising agencies serving these companies, media outlets and service organizations involved with utility organizations. The 84-year-old professional organization's utility company members adhere to a strict code of conduct that encourages clear and honest communications.