ATCO Electric and ATCO Gas Win Awards of Excellence

Awards recognize unique student safety program


EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - June 8, 2011) - ATCO Electric and ATCO Gas (TSX:ACO.X) (TSX:ACO.Y) have received two Awards of Excellence for their unique approach to safety education. The latest award comes from the Canadian Public Relations Society in recognition of ATCO Energy Theatre – a program aimed at educating young people about gas and electricity safety.

"While we are honoured to receive this national award, the enthusiasm and feedback we've received from our young audiences has been the real reward," said Brian Hahn, President, ATCO Gas.

ATCO Energy Theatre uses "edu-tainment" to teach young children important lessons about electricity and natural gas, their hazards and how to avoid potentially fatal situations.The program is offered free-of-charge to elementary schools in communities served by ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric and involves touring a self-contained, four-person theatrical production across Alberta in the fall and spring. Since its introduction in 2007, ATCO Energy Theatre has visited more than 285 schools in 150 Alberta communities and "edu-tained" more than 75,000 school children and their teachers.

We place tremendous importance on the safety of our workers and the general public," said Bobbi Lambright, President, ATCO Electric Operations Division. "By tapping the creativity and excitement of live theatre, we're helping kids learn how to be safe around natural gas and electricity. That's what really makes this program a success."

ATCO Energy Theatre received a similar Award of Excellence granted by the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC Edmonton) during its Capital Awards program held June 2. The safety program was also nominated for an award at Edmonton's annual Mayor's Celebration of the Arts held in April.

ATCO Gas and ATCO Electric are wholly-owned subsidiaries of Canadian Utilities Limited, part of the ATCO Group of Companies. ATCO Group, with more than 7,700 employees and assets of approximately $10 billion, delivers service excellence and innovative business solutions worldwide with leading companies engaged in Utilities (pipelines, natural gas and electricity transmission and distribution), Energy (power generation, natural gas gathering, processing, storage and liquids extraction), Structures & Logistics (manufacturing, logistics and noise abatement) and Technologies (business systems solutions). More information can be found at www.atco.com.

Forward-Looking Information:

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Contact Information:

ATCO Electric and ATCO Gas
Corporate Communications
(780) 288-7621
www.atco.com

Canadian Public Relations Society
Karen Dalton
Executive Director
(416) 239-7034

IABC - Edmonton
Sarah Parker
Director of Special Events & Awards
(780) 496-7290