TRANSLink Utilities Suspend Development Activities

TRANSLink Utilities Suspend Development Activities 


CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa, Nov. 21  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- TRANSLink Management
Development Co. today announced that upon the direction of the participant
utilities, formation of the proposed TRANSLink Transmission Co. has been
suspended.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020405/LNTLOGO )

"TRANSLink utility participants asked the board and management last week to put
all development and operational activities on hold due to continued regulatory
and market uncertainty," said Audrey Zibelman, president and CEO. "Since the
transmission operating agreements with the utility owners were the foundation of
our business proposal, the board decided to proceed with dissolution of the
interim management development company.

"While I appreciate the needs of the TRANSLink participants to re-evaluate their
business interests, I have decided to resign my position in order to pursue
other industry opportunities," Zibelman said.

In a joint statement, TRANSLink utility participants thanked the board and
management for their efforts and said, "We continue to believe that the
development of independent transmission companies will be an important element
of the future electric industry.

"We applaud the efforts of Ms. Zibelman and the TRANSLink management team to
further the debate over the importance of a regional approach to electric
transmission development and operations. While our organizations are pausing in
the development of TRANSLink Transmission Co. at this time, we are confident
that our formation efforts will positively impact how the region proceeds to
address our transmission challenges."

The TRANSLink board also voiced its appreciation for management. Said Board
Co-Chair Julian Brix: "The board is convinced that the TRANSLink independent
transmission company model has the opportunity to bring considerable value to
electric customers. While we are certainly disappointed in the outcome, we
appreciate the fact that the participants continue to want to have the
opportunity to form an ITC once there is greater regulatory and industry
clarity."

Plans had called for TRANSLink to operate and own electric transmission systems
in portions of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska,
New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin.

TRANSLink participants are Interstate Power and Light Co. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa,
a subsidiary of Alliant Energy, Madison, Wis.; Central Iowa Power Cooperative,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Corn Belt Power Cooperative, Humboldt, Iowa; Dairyland Power
Cooperative, La Crosse, Wis.; Great River Energy, Elk River, Minn.; MidAmerican
Energy Co., Des Moines, Iowa; Muscatine Power and Water, Muscatine, Iowa;
Nebraska Public Power District, Columbus, Neb.; Omaha Public Power District,
Omaha, Neb.; Rochester Public Utilities, Rochester, Minn.; Southern Minnesota
Municipal Power Agency, Rochester, Minn.; Xcel Energy, Minneapolis; and Midwest
Municipal Transmission Group, an association of municipal utilities. 

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DATASOURCE: TRANSLink Management Development Co.



CONTACT: Media, Ryan Stensland, [phone], or Investors, Eric Mott,

[phone], both of TRANSLink Management Development Co.



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

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