Progress Energy was one of North America's "Top Utilities for Economic Development" in 2005, according to Site Selection magazine.

The magazine's September 2006 issue says Progress Energy was one of 11 winning utilities based on new jobs and capital investment in its service area in 2005. Progress Energy has earned this honor four of the last five years.

"We are extremely pleased to be recognized once again by Site Selection magazine," said Gene Upchurch, vice president of state public affairs and economic development for Progress Energy. "In 2005, we were able to help bring thousands of quality jobs and significant capital investments to the communities within our service areas. As in the past, this success is the result of the commitment and collaboration of our staff and those we partner with at the state, regional and local levels."

Progress Energy helped to attract more than 10,000 new jobs and more than $1.5 billion in capital investments to projects in its service area in the Carolinas and Florida, according to the Site Selection article announcing 2005's Top Utilities.

The Top Utilities list is released annually by the editors of Site Selection magazine, who survey utility companies across North America to determine the number and type of new and expanded facilities that have located in their service areas, the number of jobs created, the amount of capital investments, and the development of new programs and services for attracting economic activity.

Site Selection magazine, published by Conway Data Inc., delivers expansion planning information to more than 44,000 global executives of fast-growing firms.

Progress Energy, headquartered in Raleigh, is a Fortune 250 diversified energy company with more than 23,000 megawatts of generation capacity and $10 billion in annual revenues.

The company's holdings include two electric utilities serving 3 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. Progress Energy also includes nonregulated operations covering energy marketing and natural gas exploration.

Progress Energy is the 2006 recipient of the Edison Electric Institute's Edison Award, the industry's highest honor, in recognition of its operational excellence.

In 2005, the company also received the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Founder's Award for dedication, commitment and sustained improvement in customer service.