BUENOS AIRES, Argentina, Aug. 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. (NYSE: EDN; Buenos Aires Stock Exchange: EDN) ("EDENOR" or "the Company"), Argentina's largest electricity distributor, today announced its results for the second quarter of 2009. All figures are stated in Argentine Pesos and have been prepared in accordance with Argentine GAAP. Solely for the convenience of the reader, Peso amounts as of and for the period ended June 30, 2009 have been translated into U.S. Dollars at the buying rate for U.S. Dollars quoted by Banco de la Nacion Argentina (Banco Nacion) on June 30, 2009 of Ps. 3.797. 2Q09 Highlights Net Sales increased 11.3% to Ps. 508.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 from Ps. 456.8 million in the second quarter of 2008. This increase is mainly due to the recognition of the CMM adjustment approved in August 2008 (applied retroactively to July 2008) and the increase in the energy purchase price applied to certain customers. Volume of Energy Sold decreased by 5.0% to 4,414 GWh in the second quarter of 2009 from 4,645 GWh in the second quarter of 2008. The decrease in volume is attributable to a 7.3% decrease in the average GWh consumption per customer, partially compensated by a 2.5% increase in the number of customers. Electric Power Purchases increased 11.6%, to Ps. 251.6 million for the second quarter of 2009 from Ps. 225.5 million in the second quarter of 2008, mainly due to an increase in the energy purchase price applied to certain customers (Residential Customers with bimonthly consumption levels over 1000KWh, Commercial Customers and Industrial Customers with power consumption levels over 300 KW). This increase was partially offset by a decrease of 2.8% in the volume of electricity purchased, from 4,359 GWh in the second quarter of 2008 to 4,235 GWh in the second quarter of 2009 (excluding wheeling system demand). Gross Margin increased 10.9% to Ps. 256.6 million in the second quarter of 2009 from Ps. 231.3 million in the second quarter of 2008. This increase is mainly due to an increase in the VAD resulting from the application of the new electricity tariff schedule approved in August 2008 (applied retroactively to July 2008). Net Operating Income decreased 6.7% to Ps. 44.3 million in the second quarter of 2009 from Ps. 47.5 million in the second quarter of 2008 mainly due to an increase in transmission and distribution expenses (Ps. 21.6 million) and an increase in administrative expenses (Ps. 8.3 million), which more than offset the increase in the gross margin and a decrease in selling expenses. Net Income increased 21.3% to Ps. 46.9 million in the second quarter of 2009 from Ps. 38.6 million in the second quarter of 2008 mainly due to an increase in other income resulting from a recovery of allowance for doubtful accounts related to the ratification of the New Addendum to our Framework Agreement with the Argentine National government and the Province of Buenos Aires, and a recovery of tax contingencies. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Six Six months months 2Q 2009 * 2Q 2008* % Change period period % Change vs. 2008 ended ended vs. 2008 June 30, June 30, 2009* 2008* Net Sales 508.3 456.8 11.3% 1,060.2 912.4 16.2% Electric power purchases (251.6) (225.5) 11.6% (519.3) (440.4) 17.9% Gross margin 256.6 231.3 10.9% 540.9 472.1 14.6% Net Operating Income (loss) 44.3 47.5 (6.7)% 118.4 111.7 6.0% *In millions of Argentine Pesos DATASOURCE: Empresa Distribuidora y Comercializadora Norte S.A. CONTACT: Investors: Ivana Del Rossi, Finance Manager, +011-5411-4346-5127, or Veronica Gysin, Investor Relations, +011-5411-4346-5231, both of Edenor, /First Call Analyst: Web site: http://www.edenor.com.ar/

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