Midwest ISO Announces Big Rivers Electric Corporation’s Intent to Join Carmel-based Regional Transmission Organization

Full integration into Midwest market operations expected September 2010

PR Newswire — December 17, 2009

CARMEL, Ind., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ — The Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator today announced Big Rivers Electric Corporation’s intention to fully integrate into the Midwest ISO as a transmission-owning member in September 2010.

Big Rivers will integrate its 1,262-mile transmission system into the Midwest ISO, allowing the electric generation and transmission cooperative to access one of the largest markets in the world for buying and selling power. Big Rivers will also participate in the Midwest ISO’s ancillary services market, which will benefit regional grid reliability by providing flexibility in addressing unexpected loss of generation and transmission. The Midwest ISO’s markets’ independence allows the most cost-effective and reliable source of generation to be matched with power needs.

“Fully integrating Big Rivers into the Midwest ISO markets enhances reliability and provides additional benefits, including more efficient generation dispatch, lower cost provision of ancillary reserves and more economic congestion management. In addition, expanding our operations in Kentucky will enhance regional transmission planning,” said Richard Doying, Vice President of Market Operations. “Greater market efficiency, increased reliability and enhanced transmission planning produce benefits for Big Rivers and all of our other members,” he added.

Big Rivers’ final integration into the Midwest ISO system is subject to certain regulatory and creditor reviews and approvals. The electric generation and transmission cooperative will benefit from Midwest ISO’s regional planning initiatives that aim to identify the most effective locations and means for generation and transmission improvements. In addition, the Midwest ISO’s long-term transmission expansion planning is expected to provide savings and cost reduction of approximately $1 billion annually by 2013. The Midwest ISO’s independence and stakeholder process ensures that transmission system improvement recommendations are made solely to support power reliability and a strong market.

“We are honored that Big Rivers has chosen to become part of Midwest ISO as a transmission-owning member,” said Midwest ISO President and Chief Executive Officer John Bear. “We look forward to working with their team to deliver a smooth transition so that Big Rivers may begin accessing the value the Midwest marketplace can provide to them.”

The addition of Big Rivers Electric Corporation incorporates approximately 1,756 megawatts of generating capacity into the Midwest ISO’s footprint.

About Big Rivers Electric Corporation

Big Rivers Electric Corporation is an electric generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Henderson, Kentucky and owned by its three distribution cooperative members — Jackson Purchase Energy Corporation, headquartered in Paducah; Kenergy Corp., headquartered in Henderson; and Meade County Rural Electric Cooperative Corporation, headquartered in Brandenburg. These member cooperatives deliver retail electric power and energy to more than 111,000 residential, commercial, and industrial customers in portions of 22 Western Kentucky counties.

About the Midwest ISO

The Midwest ISO ensures reliable operation of, and equal access to high-voltage power lines in 13 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Manitoba. The Midwest ISO manages one of the world’s largest energy markets, clearing nearly $41 billion in energy transactions annually. The Midwest ISO was approved as the nation’s first regional transmission organization (RTO) in 2001. The non-profit 501(C)(4) organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors, and is headquartered in Carmel, Indiana, with operations centers in Carmel and St. Paul, Minnesota. Membership in the organization is voluntary. For more information, visit www.midwestmarket.org.

SOURCE Midwest ISO