HOUSTON, TEXAS, May 31, 2002-El Paso Corporation (NYSE:EP) today responded to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) most recent request for statements of admission or denial with respect to so-called "wash" or "round trip" or "sell/buyback" transactions in the power trading sector. The affidavit provided today by El Paso confirms that the company did not engage in any such practices. A copy of the El Paso Merchant Energy affidavit is available on the company's Internet web site.

El Paso Corporation is North America's leading provider of natural gas services. The company has core businesses in natural gas production, gathering and processing, and transmission, as well as liquefied natural gas transport and receiving, petroleum logistics, power generation, and merchant energy services. El Paso Corporation, rich in assets and fully integrated across the natural gas value chain, is committed to developing new supplies and technologies to deliver energy to communities around the world. For more information, visit www.elpaso.com.

View the attached El Paso Merchant Energy affidavit by clicking here.

This release includes forward-looking statements and projections, made in reliance on the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The company has made every reasonable effort to ensure that the information and assumptions on which these statements and projections are based are current, reasonable, and complete. However, a variety of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release. While the company makes these statements and projections in good faith, neither the company nor its management can guarantee that the anticipated future results will be achieved. Reference should be made to the company's (and its affiliates') Securities and Exchange Commission filings for additional important factors that may affect actual results.