Appeal of Claims That Are Denied or Partially Denied. The claimant may request review of the Claims Administrator's denial or partial denial of a claim for Plan benefits. Such request must be made in writing within sixty (60) days after claimant has received notice of the Claims Administrator's decision and shall include with the written request for an appeal any and all documents, materials, or other evidence which claimant believes supports his claim for benefits. The written request for an appeal, together with all documents, materials, or other evidence which claimant believes supports his claim for benefits should be addressed to the Claims Administrator, who will be responsible for submitting the appeal for review to the Claims Appeal Administrator.

Claims Appeal Procedure. Upon receipt of a claim for benefits under the Plan, the Company shall notify the Participant, Beneficiary or authorized representative of any action

Appeal of Claims that Are Denied or Partially Denied. 16

Within a reasonable period of time after the denial of the claim, but in any event, not to be more than sixty (60) days, the claimant or his/her duly authorized representative may make written application to the Committee for a review of such denial. The claimant or his/her representative, may, upon request and free of charge, review or receive copies of documents, records and other information relevant to the claimant’s claim for benefits, and may submit written comments, documents, records and other information relating to the claim for benefits.

Except as provided in [Section 6.3(c)(2)], the named fiduciary must render a decision no later than 60 days after receiving the written request for review, unless circumstances make it impossible to do so; but in no event shall the decision be rendered later than 120 days after the request for review is received. If the named fiduciary determines that an extension of time for processing is required, written notice of the extension shall be furnished to the claimant by the plan administrator prior to the termination of the initial 60-day period. The extension notice shall indicate the special circumstances requiring an extension of time and the date by which the plan expects to render the determination on review.

If a Participant’s appeal is denied, in whole or in part, he or she will be notified in writing of the specific reason(s) for the denial and the exact Plan provision(s) on which the decision was based. If a Participant is not notified within the 60-day (or 120-day, if so extended) period, he or she may consider the appeal as denied. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Participant may file a lawsuit until these procedures have been exhausted, it being understood that these claims procedures shall not prevent a Participant from filing a lawsuit after the claims procedures have been exhausted.

Administrative Claims. A claim or appeal relating to eligibility to participate in the Plan, status as a Vested Participant, required contributions or any other claim or appeal that is not a claim or appeal relating to a medical or life insurance benefit under the Plan will be considered an “Administrative Claim” and will be subject to the claims and appeals procedures set forth in this section 7.02. Administrative Claims will be decided by the Corporate Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, or his or her delegate, who will be the claims administrator and the appropriate named fiduciary with respect to such claims.

If the PUC Approval Order became subject to a motion for reconsideration, and the motion for reconsideration is denied or the PUC Approval Order is affirmed after reconsideration, and such order is not made subject to an appeal, the PUC Approval Date shall be deemed to be the date one day after the expiration of the Appeal Period following the order denying reconsideration of or affirming the PUC Approval Order.

Claims (Other than Disability Claims). The Committee will provide to every Claimant who is denied a claim for benefits notice setting forth, in a manner calculated to be understood by the Claimant, the following:

If your claim for a severance benefit is denied or ignored, in whole or in part, you have a right to know why this was done, to obtain copies of documents relating to the decision without charge, and to appeal any denial, all within certain time schedules.