EXHIBIT 99.496 [ISO ALLIANCE LETTERHEAD] August 1, 1997 Mr. W.L. Strong VIA FEDERAL EXPRESS Duke Engineering and Services 5000 Executive Parkway Suite 300 San Ramon, CA 94583 Re: Completion of Supplier Milestone Number 36 Dear Mr. Strong: Enclosed please find one copy plus diskette of the Operational Dry Run plan completed and delivered. Please indicate your receipt of this document by returning a signed copy of the enclosed receipt. For your convenience, we have included a self-addressed stamped envelope. This satisfies Supplier Milestone number 36. Yours truly, S.R. Ingram Enclosures cc: Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP ATTN: M.R. Hoffmann ABB Systems Control ATTN: Shahid Iqbal Ernst & Young, LLP ATTN: Richard Jones ________________________________________________________________________________ Control Number: 00122 This document is intended only for the named recipient(s) and contains confidential information that is the property of the ISO Alliance LLC. Dissemination of this material to anyone not named above without the consent of the Alliance is strictly prohibited. CONFIRMATION OF SUPPLIER MILESTONE NUMBER 36 August ___, 1997 I am in receipt of the ISO Alliance Supplier Milestone Number 36: Operational Dry Run completed and delivered - -------------------------------- Printed Name - -------------------------------- Signature