PATERSON, NJ [January 11, 2012] – St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center has partnered with Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) in the completion of a $1.1 million project in energy efficiency improvements.

The project, which began in early 2009, has been a smooth process with a quick turnaround and renovations throughout the hospital have received positive reactions from employees. As a result of the project (the last of the funding was presented on November 16, 2011), part of PSE&G’s Hospital Energy Efficiency Program,                 St. Joseph’s will save more than $250,000 annually in utility costs.

 “We designed our Hospital Energy Efficiency Program to allow hospitals to make improvements that will significantly lower their utility bills without having to make large upfront investments,” said Al Matos, Vice President of Renewable and Energy Solutions, PSE&G. “With PSE&G providing the initial funding, the hospitals can make their investment decisions based on how to provide the best health care to communities they serve.”

Through the Hospital Energy Efficiency Program, PSE&G bore the upfront cost of $1.1 million. St. Joseph’s will repay about half of that cost at zero percent interest over a 36-month period. Based on an extensive energy-use audit, a number of energy conservation measures were put in place at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, including chiller and cooling plant improvements, air handling improvements and lighting upgrades.

Scott Reilly, Power Plant Manager at St. Joseph’s, headed the overall projects along with Gloria Kunze, Vice President of Operations, St. Joseph’s Healthcare System, and has been tracking its success. “It’s going green and saving energy and we’re doing our part,” said Reilly.

“The green initiatives have long term implications for the hospital and our environment,” said Jack Robinson, Chief Financial Officer, St. Joseph’s Healthcare System. “These energy saving grant-based projects have already begun to contribute to lowering our utility costs.”

The PSE&G Hospital Energy Efficiency Program is $129 million initiative that is currently funding the installation of energy conservation measures at 19 hospitals in PSE&G’s service territory.

About PSE&G

Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) is New Jersey’s oldest and largest regulated gas and electric delivery utility, serving nearly three-quarters of the state’s population. PSE&G is the winner of the ReliabilityOne™ Award for superior electric system reliability. PSE&G is a subsidiary of Public Service Enterprise Group Incorporated (PSEG) (NYSE:PEG), a diversified energy company (www.pseg.com).

About St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center

St. Joseph's Healthcare System encompasses St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, an academic tertiary care state designated trauma center and three-time recipient of the Magnet Award for Nursing Excellence, which includes St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, an acute care state designated children's hospital in Paterson, NJ; St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital, a division of St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, an acute care community hospital in Wayne, NJ; St. Vincent's Nursing Home, a long-term residential facility in Cedar Grove, NJ; and Visiting Health Services of NJ in Totowa, NJ.  For more information regarding St. Joseph's broad spectrum of programs and services, visit www.StJosephsHealth.org or call 877.757.SJHS (7547).

Caption to accompany attached photo:

Pictured left to right are (seated) Al Matos, Vice President of Renewables and Energy Solutions, PSE&G; Jack Robinson, Chief Financial Officer, St. Joseph’s Healthcare System; (standing) Michael Savage, Program Manager of the Hospital Energy Efficiency Program, PSE&G; Michael Kowal, Large Customer Support Representative, PSE&G; Scott Reilly, Power Plant Manager, St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center; and Gloria Kunze, Vice President of Operations,             St. Joseph’s Healthcare System.