NEW YORK – Con Edison has lowered its greenhouse gas emissions 35 percent since 2005 and expects its carbon footprint to shrink further as it shifts to greater use of natural gas at its steam-generation plants, according to the company’s 2010 Sustainability Report (www.conEd.com/sustainability).

Con Edison said its total emissions ticked up slightly last year from 2009, but that the modest increase was due to last year’s unusually cold winter and hot summer, which drove up the demand for steam for heating and air conditioning.

The Sustainability Report is a comprehensive summary of the steps Con Edison is taking to grow its business, protect the environment, support activities in the community, and promote diversity.

“We want to help the community and improve lives with every action we take at Con Edison,” said Randolph S. Price, vice president of Environment, Health and Safety.  “That means reducing our carbon footprint, helping our customers reduce their energy usage, and supporting organizations that do wonderful work.”

Con Edison supported more than 1,200 local nonprofit organizations last year. Through its Power of Giving program, the company supports the arts, civic awareness, environmental stewardship and education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

The company’s 2010 honors included recognition by DiversityInc. magazine for promoting diversity, and a perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index for practices related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees. The company also received the LATINA Style 50 award as one of the best U.S. companies for Latina employees.

And the company achieved its best employee safety performance ever, according to the report.

Helping customers manage their energy usage and reduce their bills is an important part of the company’s environmental strategy. Con Edison offers a wide array of money-saving, energy-efficiency programs for residential and business customers. For more information on the company’s energy efficiency programs, visit www.conEd.com/energyefficiency  or call Con Edison’s “Green Team” at 1-877-870-6118.

Other notable highlights from Con Edison’s 2010 Sustainability Report include:

• Customers are discovering the economic and environmental benefits of solar power. Con Edison of New York customers completed more than 200 projects last year and the amount of solar power in the company’s service area doubled.

• Con Edison recycled more than 90 percent of the nonhazardous waste generated in 2010, including refurbished computer equipment that was donated to schools.

• Con Edison Solutions, a competitive subsidiary, grew its green energy business by selling 25 percent more renewable energy. The subsidiary also completed seven solar installations in Cape Cod, Mass.

• Con Edison Development broke ground on what will be the largest solar farm in the Northeastern United States. The project in Pilesgrove, N.J. will include more than 75,000 panels and supply 21 megawatts of power.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. [NYSE: ED] is one of the nation’s largest investor-owned, energy-delivery companies, with approximately $13 billion in annual revenues and $36 billion in assets.

Consolidated Edison, Inc. is a Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI) company. The global Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) has ranked Consolidated Edison, Inc. #1 among all S&P 500 companies in its 2010 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index, as well as # 1 among utilities in the CDP’s new Carbon Performance Leadership Index. Consolidated Edison, Inc. also has been recognized for its environmental performance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Energy and other organizations.

For additional financial, operations and customer service information, visit us on the Web at www.conEd.com, at our green site, www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen, or find us on Facebook at Power of Green.