March 23, 2004

ROSEMEAD, Calif., March 23, 2004 — Southern California Edison (SCE) customers who meet program guidelines can receive assistance to pay their winter electric bills through the utility’s energy assistance fund (EAF).

“EAF is open to income-qualified customers who are unable to pay their electric bills, are disabled, or are elderly and on fixed incomes,” said Suzanne Middelburg, SCE’s director of consumer affairs and customer satisfaction.

The program provides residential customers as much as $100 in bill-payment assistance, and as much as $200 for customers with all-electric homes.  The 2004 EAF program ends April 30 or when funds run out.

“Income-qualified customers also can enroll in the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program, SCE’s 20% discount rate, at the same time,” Middelburg added.

Customers can apply for EAF assistance in person at one of 100 community agencies that are distributing funds.  For agency locations and additional information on SCE’s customer assistance programs, call (800) 655-4555.

# # #

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of more than 12 million via 4.5 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within central, coastal and Southern California.