Alliant Energy Releases Crews to Aid Louisiana Power Restoration

Alliant Energy Releases Crews to Aid Louisiana Power Restoration

Fifty-Five Electric Construction Crew Members Respond to Call for Assistance

MADISON, Wis., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alliant Energy (NYSE:LNT) announced today it has worked with its line contractor, Pieper Power, to release 55 construction crew members working in the Wisconsin Power and Light (WP&L) service territory to help restoration efforts in Louisiana.

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The 55 construction crew members represent the 15 crews WP&L utilizes for large overhead utility construction, system rebuilds, and installing new commercial and industrial electrical services. At this time, WP&L distribution and emergency responders will remain in Wisconsin. In addition to providing maintenance and restoration service, the distribution and emergency response crews will work on construction projects.

"We have had to postpone some new construction projects, but the customers we have talked to understand that these crews are needed down south to help restore power to those in desperate need," said Barb Siehr, Vice President of Customer Operations.

In addition to releasing the construction crews, last Friday WP&L released 20 contracted tree-trimming specialists so they could travel to Florida before Katrina hit land. These crews are now helping restoration efforts in Mississippi.

Alliant Energy is a member of RestorePower, a unique service provided by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). RestorePower is dedicated to facilitating electrical utility power restoration needs before, during and after emergencies caused by natural disasters. If additional crews are needed from Alliant Energy longer-term, EEI will initiate a mutual aid request call.

Alliant Energy Corporation is an energy-services provider with subsidiaries serving more than three million customers. Providing its customers in the Midwest with regulated electricity and natural gas service remains the company's primary focus. Alliant Energy's domestic utility subsidiaries, Interstate Power and Light and Wisconsin Power and Light, serve 982,000 electric and 416,000 natural gas customers. Other business platforms include the international energy market and non-regulated domestic generation. Alliant Energy, headquartered in Madison, Wis., is a Fortune 1000 company traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol LNT. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.alliantenergy.com/ .

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Source: Alliant Energy Corporation

CONTACT: Scott R. Smith of Alliant Energy Corporation, +1-608-458-3924

Web site: http://www.alliantenergy.com/

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