Operations - Maritime Electric TSE:FTS interrupted ser vice as customers experienced, on average, 1.48 hours of inter ruptions. Environmental pr otection remains a key corporate focus for Maritime Electric. The Company takes pride in its environmental stewar dship r ole and works closely with gover nment agencies to  ensur e its operations take into consideration any associated environmental impacts. During 2001, the Company worked with the Gover nment of Prince Edwar d Island which commissioned a  five-MW wind-generated facility  at the wester n tip of the Island. The Pr ovince of Prince Edwar d Island and the Gover nment of Canada have agr eed to pay a “gr een power” pr emium for most of the electricity generated by thefacility. The balance of the output will be marketed  by Maritime Electric to its other customers. years, this cost has been closely linked to the price  of Bunker C oil and the amount has fluctuated as a r esult ofincreases in oil prices and the cost of r eplacement ener gy during shutdowns at the NB Power Point Lepr eau Nuclear Generating Station (“Point Lepr eau”) or cur tailments in ener gy supply fr om NB Power.This exposur e was significantly r educed in 2001 when the Ener gy Pur chase Agr eement, which was linked to oil prices and the availability of Point Lepr eau, was r eplaced by contracts  with NB Power and Emera for fir m ener gy at fixed prices. The Company continues to focus on impr ovements to its energy deliver y system. Incr eased customer demand requir es that new facilities be constr ucted and that existing facilities be maintained. System r eliability in 2001 once again exceeded the Maritime Electric Company Limited Regulation Act benchmark of 5.5 hours of The availability of natural gas in the Maritimes of fers potential oppor tunities for Maritime Electric to fur ther diversify its energy supply por tfolio. The Gover nment of Prince Edwar d Island has indicated its desir e to make natural gas available to Islanders, ther eby assuring that they have the same economic advantages as r esidents and businesses in other pr ovinces. Maritime Electric continues FORTIS Inc. 2OO1 Annual Repor t 14 Maritime Electric is committed to providing fast and efficient service to customers.