First Solar Selected in Competitive Bidding Process for Initial Panels

ROSEMEAD, Calif., Jul 16, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Southern California Edison (SCE) today began installing solar
panels at the first of approximately 150 Southern California
commercial rooftops that eventually will make up SCE's two square mile
solar generation project -- the largest solar panel installation in
the world.

During the next 45 days, SCE will attach 33,000 solar panels to a
600,000-square-foot commercial roof in Fontana, Calif., leased from
ProLogis. When completed, this first installation will be capable of
generating 2 million watts of power, enough electricity to supply
approximately 1,300 average Southern California households at a point
in time. This new, clean power supply will be fed directly into the
nearest neighborhood distribution circuit, strengthening grid
reliability in the nation's fastest growing urban area, the Inland
Empire region of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. SCE expects to
connect the first panels to its grid in early September, which will
help meet peak summer power needs.

First Solar, developer of an advanced thin-film photovoltaic
technology, has been selected as the winning bidder in a competitive
solicitation to supply the PV system for this first installation.

"First Solar's successful bid validated our cost forecast to
regulators -- SCE's solar energy project will significantly reduce the
cost of installed photovoltaic generation in California," said SCE
President John R. Fielder.

"We are pleased to work with Edison on a project we believe will
demonstrate the solar PV system business model needed to dramatically
reduce distributive solar electricity costs," said Michael J. Ahearn,
CEO of First Solar. "Edison's project confirms the important role of
PV solar power plants in delivering clean, affordable electricity to
the nation's fastest growing urban areas."

Subject to regulatory approval, during the next five years SCE
plans to install 3.5 million of the most advanced photovoltaic panels
or 250 megawatts of solar generating capacity--enough capacity to
serve approximately 162,000 Southern California homes. Decisions have
not yet been made on other building sites or panel suppliers.

SCE asked the California Public Utilities Commission on March 27
for approval to commit a total of $875 million to the utility's solar
project, informing regulators the expected capacity cost per installed
watt would be approximately $3.50, half the average current capacity
cost of other photovoltaic installations. Subsequently, on May 8, SCE
provided additional cost projections to regulators, telling them the
utility forecasts an energy cost of approximately 20 cents per
kilowatt-hour after adjusting for time of delivery.

Numerous Potential Benefits Seen

SCE sees numerous benefits to customers, the region and the state
from its solar project. The program will provide a new generation
source to areas where customer demand is rising. The solar modules
will be connected directly to the nearest neighborhood circuit,
eliminating the costly, time-consuming step of building new
transmission lines to bring power to customers. The output of solar
panels closely matches peak customer demand -- lower in the morning
and evening, higher in the afternoon.

SCE anticipates the project will create new jobs in Southern
California in the solar industry. The International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, one of SCE's project partners, is supporting the
project though the expansion of its solar apprentice training program.

SCE's massive solar project also is designed to supplement several
California environmental programs, especially the Million Solar Roofs
program that provides incentives to encourage Californians to install
solar projects by 2017. The solar program supports the state's Global
Warming Solutions Act, which requires the reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, as well as complementing
California's renewable portfolio standard, the goal that 20 percent of
the state's electricity be generated with renewable energy.

How It Works

Solar panels are made of materials that convert sunlight directly
into electricity through a chemical process.

-- Thin semiconductor layers form an electric field, positive on
one side and negative on the other side.

-- When sunlight strikes the semiconductor, electrons are knocked
loose from the atoms of the material creating the current.

-- Wires are attached to the positive and negative sides to carry
the electricity from the cell to the device to be powered.

An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California
Edison is the largest electric utility in California, serving a
population of more than 13 million via 4.8 million customer accounts
in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and
Southern California.

(Note to Editors: Video and high-resolution photos are available
at www.sce.com/solarevent.)

SOURCE: Southern California Edison

Southern California Edison
Media Contact:
Gil Alexander, 626-302-2255
www.edisonnews.com
or
Investor Relations Contact:
Scott Cunningham, 626-302-2540
www.edisoninvestor.com

Copyright Business Wire 2008