Electric News Releases

May 23, 2000

'Benjamin Franklin' Visits School Children, Promotes Virginia Power Grant To Virginia 4-H Foundation

RICHMOND, Va. – Benjamin Franklin stepped out of history books and into downtown Richmond Tuesday with an important electrical safety message for 35 elementary school students – fly kites far away from overhead power lines.

Franklin, who was portrayed by an actor dressed in the period clothing of the 18th-century scientist-publisher-philosopher, visited the students at Virginia Power's corporate offices to promote the company's $18,500 grant to the Virginia 4-H Foundation. The foundation is developing an outdoor electrical safety lesson plan for fourth-grade students.

"Our research underscores the importance of emphasizing outdoor electrical safety," said Jim Earwood, senior vice president-Bulk Power Delivery, and president of the Virginia 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees. "Kids know not to stick their finger in an electrical outlet. They are not necessarily aware of some of the dangers associated with outside electrical equipment."

Urging the schoolchildren not to repeat his feat of flying a kite during an electrical storm, Franklin also stressed the following outdoor electrical safety tips to students from Blackwell and Clark Springs Elementary schools:

Never touch or climb on high-rise electrical towers. While playing outside, stay away from big green metal boxes. If you see a power line on the ground, stay away. Always obey "Danger!" signs.

Virginia Power is a subsidiary of Dominion (NYSE: D), the nation's largest fully integrated natural gas and electric company, providing energy to more than 4 million customers in five states. More information on Dominion can be found on the Internet at www.dom.com.

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