Standard Electric Expands its Boston, MA Presence

New Chelsea, MA facility represents Company's third new location in New England in 2002

Chelsea, MA (February 28, 2002) - Standard Electric, headquartered in Wilmington, Massachusetts, and one of the country's largest independent electrical distributors, has expanded it's presence in the Boston market with the opening of a new 8,500 square foot location in Chelsea, MA - just minutes away from downtown Boston and Logan International Airport.

The facility located at 615 Broadway in Chelsea, formerly housed Bernstein Electric, a 70-year-old electrical supply house that recently ceased operating. Standard Electric will continue to serve the market's electrical supply, lighting, telecommunication and power distribution product requirements through its sales, counter and warehousing operations.

"This expansion is a continuation of our growth strategy for New England and significantly strengthens our presence in the metropolitan Boston market," said Dennis Miller, president and CEO of Standard Electric. "Combined with our two existing facilities located in downtown Boston and Allston, we now have substantial coverage allowing us to provide the highest level of service to the electrical construction and maintenance markets in this dynamic and expanding city."

Standard Electric, ranked among the nation's top 50 electrical wholesalers, was founded in Waltham, MA in 1952 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary on May 1, 2002. The company continues to grow with over 250 employees and eleven locations in the Northeast.

For more company information about Standard Electric, call Kurt Schaefer at (978) 988-3115 or visit their website at www.standardelectric.com.