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June 2008
ESBIE Powers BT in new €10million contract deal

ESB Independent Energy (ESBIE), a subsidiary supply company of ESB, announced today it has signed a major new electricity contract with BT. The contract will reduce BT’s carbon footprint in Ireland by a significant reduction of 618 tonnes of C02 gas per year.

The contract to supply electricity to 72 sites in the Republic and 189 sites in Northern Ireland includes supplying an additional 3,000,000KWh of green energy generated from renewable sources and is valued at over €10 million.

ESBIE will source power for this contract primarily from its renewable portfolio which includes wind as well as from its gas fired power stations, Dublin Bay Power station on the Poolbeg Peninsula and Coolkeeragh power station near Derry. As both companies operate on an all island basis, this allows ESBIE to provide BT with a seamless contract. As with a number of ESBIE customers with operations on a 32-county basis BT has been seeking an all-island approach and a single point of contact for managing its energy needs. The recently established all-island commercial team allows ESBIE to deliver a single point of contact and billing for sites regardless of where they are situated.

Liam Molloy, Managing Director, ESBIE said, "We are delighted to have won this important contract against significant competition which further confirms ESBIE's standing as a leading energy supplier in both northern and southern Ireland. Apart from its international reputation as a networked IT services company, BT is at best practice in terms of its achievements in reducing its carbon footprint. I am pleased that ESBIE will be making its contribution to BT’s environmental policy through the provision of wind power from our growing renewables portfolio. We are committed to meeting the business needs of our customers and delivering tailored electricity packages which combine competitive pricing with first class customer service."

BT is renowned globally for its work to reduce its carbon footprint and awarding this contract in Ireland to ESBIE further underpins this commitment as it harnesses the local resource of wind power and immediately reduces our energy consumption. Energy efficiency is at the top of BT’s agenda, having just announced our plans to cut our carbon intensity by 80% across the globe by 2020 against 1996 levels and we aim to achieve this through a range of initiatives including encouraging employees, suppliers and customers to take their environmental responsibilities more seriously. Awarding this significant contract to ESBIE is one such example, commented Chris Clark, Chief Executive Officer, BT.

For further information please contact:

John Conlon
ESB Independent Energy
Tel: 01 8867343
Mobile: 0871246779