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August 1, 2011

Constellation Energy Expands Residential Electricity Choice and Savings to 330,000 Downstate Illinois Homeowners and Renters

Offer for Up to 16 Percent Savings off Ameren Rates Builds on Constellation Energy's Continuing Residential Electric Savings Offer to 1.3 Million ComEd Customers in Chicagoland

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Constellation Energy (NYSE:CEG), the nation's leading competitive electricity supplier to business and public sector customers, today announced it will offer more than 330,000 downstate Illinois residential electric consumers up to 16 percent savings compared to Ameren's winter electric supply rates.

Constellation Energy is offering selected homeowners and renters who are currently Ameren customers two ways to save on electricity: 12-month and 24-month pricing plans offering up to 16 percent savings compared to current Ameren pricing for non-electric space heating electric generation service.*

"Constellation Energy is pleased to provide downstate Illinois consumers with a competitive option that locks in electricity rates, helping them save money on their electric bills," said Kenny Matula, senior vice president of Constellation Energy Mass Markets, which includes residential and small business customers. "Homeowners and renters in the Ameren service territory can spend a few minutes online to secure low, no-hassle rates on their electricity service."

The offer to Ameren residential customers expands the residential electric choice and savings offers Constellation Energy unveiled in February and extended this summer to 1.3 million ComEd residential customers — a choice that is embraced by consumers, according to a recent statewide poll of Illinois consumers. A Kelton Research survey in June showed residents strongly support shopping for electricity providers at a time when high gasoline prices are affecting their household budgets and lifestyles. The Kelton Research survey of more than 500 Illinois residents showed 73 percent are likely to switch home electricity providers to save money.

"Constellation Energy is a recognized leader in the Illinois business and public sector energy market, and has been providing electric and natural gas service to thousands of the state's largest employers, schools, hospitals and municipalities for more than a decade," Matula added. "As a market leader in Illinois and nationwide, we're the logical choice for Illinois residential electricity shoppers who are eager to save money by lowering their current electricity rate."

Constellation Energy's Ameren residential pricing plans are limited-time offers extending through Aug. 26, 2011. Making the switch to Constellation is easy and hassle-free:

  • No sign-up or enrollment fee;
  • 90-day customer satisfaction period offering penalty-free termination; and
  • No interruption in a customer's electricity service.

Constellation Energy's offer is available to selected Ameren customers and excludes residential customers served by municipal utilities or electric co-ops which were exempted from electric utility restructuring in Illinois.

For customers who choose Constellation Energy, Ameren will continue to bill the account, deliver electricity over the same poles and wires, and handle inquiries about service outages. By state law, customers can switch to a competitive electric supplier and it will have no impact on utility service reliability.

Constellation Energy offers a simple online sign-up process at home.constellation.com or consumers may call 1-888-897-0483. The company's direct mail offer to downstate Illinois homeowners and renters began today and will last through Aug. 26, 2011, and will be supplemented by advertising to optimize consumer education and outreach.

The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is the state agency that oversees the competitive retail electric market in Illinois. Through its regulations, the ICC has granted Constellation Energy a license to operate as an alternative retail electric supplier in Illinois. Additional information about customer choice and competition in the Illinois retail electric market can be found on the ICC's website at: http://www.pluginillinois.org/. Additional information about customer choice can be found on Ameren's website (Ameren).

The Illinois residential electric choice offer is being made by Constellation NewEnergy Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Constellation Energy Group, Inc. Constellation Energy offers residential customer choice in Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C., and recently expanded its residential and small commercial customer base with the acquisition of two companies: StarTex Power, which serves customers in Texas, and MXenergy, which serves customers in 15 states and two Canadian provinces.

*Ameren's rates subject to change and therefore Constellation Energy cannot guarantee savings over the full contract term. Our price does not include any taxes, utility distribution charges or other utility fees, charges or credits. Estimated savings are based on Ameren's BGS residential (non-electric space heating) rate applicable from Sept. 30, 2011 and differ based on each customer's Ameren rate zone and customer's usage. Ameren's rates used for our savings estimates reflect Purchased Electricity Recovery (PER) costs, based on the currently effective fixed Supply Cost Adjustment. These rates also include a Transmission Service Charge. Ameren also invoices its customers for Purchased Electric Adjustment (PEA) costs in the form of monthly varying charges or credits. We excluded the PEA costs from our calculation, as ideally they will net each other out over each June — May supply period. Ameren's rates after May 2012 have not yet been set. Customers on Ameren's BGS residential (electric space heating) rate will not save. Please go to home,constellation.com or call 1-888-897-0483 for details. Your current supplier may charge you an early termination fee. Illinois Alternative Retail Electric Supplier Residential License #11-0394.

About Constellation Energy

Constellation Energy (www.constellation.com) is a leading competitive supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for homes and businesses across the continental United States. It owns a diversified fleet of generating units, totaling approximately 12,000 megawatts of generating capacity, and is a leading advocate for clean, environmentally sustainable energy sources, such as solar power and nuclear energy. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Baltimore, Constellation Energy had revenues of $14.3 billion in 2010.

Constellation Energy
Media Contact:
Maureen Brown, 410-470-7433
or
Investor Contact:
Sandra Brummitt, 410-470-6440

Source: Constellation Energy

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