Dominion, Union Sign Tentative Agreement; Union Ends Strike

August 15, 2002

RICHMOND, Va. - Dominion (NYSE: D) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 50 signed a tentative labor agreement Thursday, ending a 13-day strike against the company's electric operations in Virginia, North Carolina and a West Virginia power station.

The tentative agreement includes a nearly 15 percent compounded wage increase over the next five years, a better retirement package than in the previous contract, with an enhanced early retirement supplement and improved health care benefits. If approved, the new contract would succeed a three-year agreement that was ratified in 1995, extended twice and expired March 31. Negotiations on the new contract began in late January.

The 3,700 workers will return to their jobs during the next few days as part of an orderly transition.

"Now we can put our energies back together and renew our focus on serving our customers," said Edgar M. Roach Jr., president and chief executive officer of Dominion Virginia Power. "Thanks go to our supervisors and others for the additional hard work during the last two weeks to keep the lights on."

IBEW Local 50 represents workers at Dominion Virginia Power and Dominion North Carolina Power, which deliver electricity to more than 2 million customers, and Dominion Energy's power stations in Virginia and Mt. Storm, W.Va. The represented workers include meter readers, linemen, electricians and operators and craft workers in the power stations.

"Throughout the negotiations, we said we wanted to reach a contract that was fair to our employees and get them back to work. We believe we've done that," said Thomas F. Farrell II, chief executive officer of Dominion Energy. "We anticipate a smooth transition back to normal. Our supervisors and employees deserve thanks for working long hours to maintain power operations safely."

Dominion is one of the nation's largest producers of energy, with about 17,000 employees and a production capability of more than 3 trillion British thermal unit of energy per day. Dominion also serves 3.8 million franchise natural gas and electric customers in five states. For more information about Dominion, visit the company's Web site at www.dom.com.
 

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