PRAGUE, January 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Operator trhu s elektrinou, a.s. (OTE), (The Czech Electricity Market Operator), a traditional Day-ahead spot market and Intraday market organizer in the Czech Republic, is on the base of market rules approved by Energy Regulation Office Decree allowed to launch a new type of electricity trade -Block market which allows continuous trading of individual day electricity blocks (Base, Peak, Off Peak) with physical delivery up to 5 days before the day of delivery. According to Mr. Jiri Stastny, CEO of the company OTE, this new trade platform provides other opportunities for more efficient electricity allocation to the place of consumption through organized market and improves transparency of electricity market in the Czech Republic. Launching of Block market is planned on February 1, 2008. You will find more information on company web site: http://www.ote-cr.cz.

Contact: Ing. Pavel Maxa Market and Risk Manager email: pmaxa@ote-cr.cz tel: +420-296579179 http://www.ote-cr.cz Address: Operator trhu s elektrinou, a.s.; Sokolovska 79; 186 00 Praha 8; Czech Republic

Ing. Pavel Maxa, Market and Risk Manager, email: pmaxa@ote-cr.cz, tel: +420-296579179, Address: Operator trhu s elektrinou, a.s.; Sokolovska 79; 186 00 Praha 8; Czech Republic