Free, On-line Home Improvement Service Now Availableto Customers of National Grid's Local...

Business/Technology Editors

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 2000

Massachusetts Electric Company, Narragansett Electric Company,

Granite State Electric Company, and Nantucket Electric

Company Partner With ImproveNet

Customers of National

Grid USA's (National Grid) electricity distribution companies -- Massachusetts Electric, Narragansett Electric, Granite State Electric, and Nantucket Electric -- now have access to free, on-line home improvement resources from ImproveNet Inc., a leading web-based home improvement services company. National Grid today announced that its distribution companies have joined more than 65 other companies nationwide that offer the "Powered By ImproveNet" suite of home improvement resources on their web sites. National Grid is the first electric utility in New England to offer this service to its customers.

Residential customers who choose to use ImproveNet's service to undertake remodeling projects will be matched with available licensed contractors, architects and designers in their area from ImproveNet's pre-screened network. Customers also will have access to ImproveNet's nationwide staff of Personal Project Advisers, who are available by telephone and e-mail to answer questions and help with any difficulties that may arise during their home improvement. ImproveNet's services are available to National Grid's residential customers free of charge.

"The heart of ImproveNet's service is a free matching system that taps a database of pre-screened contractors, architects and designers to provide homeowners with up to four qualified professionals interested in bidding on their project," said Lawrence J. Reilly, president and chief executive officer of National Grid's distribution companies. "This service can be a real timesaver and a convenience for our customers, which is why we decided to offer it on our web site."

ImproveNet Inc. (NASDAQ:IMPV) combines the convenience and speed of the Internet with personalized assistance to make home improvements more successful for homeowners, contractors, architects, designers, manufacturers, retailers, lenders and real estate professionals. Among the more than 60 partners currently using ImproveNet content and services as an e-business and customer loyalty solution are GE, DuPont Corian, Owens Corning, Cendant, Payless Cashways, Yahoo, Microsoft Home Advisor, Knight-Ridder and Cox Interactive. For more information, contact www.ImproveNet.com; www.ImproveNetPRO.com, or 800-437-0473.

National Grid USA's subsidiaries are engaged in the transmission and distribution of electricity, and the construction and leasing of dark telecommunications infrastructure. National Grid's local electric companies serve more than 1.7 million customers in 228 communities in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire.