NEW YORK, June 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Nominations are now being accepted for the 2012 Global Energy Awards which recognize corporate and individual excellence in five main categories for a total of 20 individual performance awards (http://geaweb.platts.com/CategoryOverview.aspx), announced Platts, the program host and a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information. All nominations must be received by September 10, 2012.

Recognized as the energy industry's most renowned awards program and often described as "the Oscars of Energy," the Platts Global Energy Awards, are in their 14th year and routinely draw hundreds of nominations from energy and non-energy companies alike.

"Every year we refine the Global Energy Awards to reflect the industry's current state and focus and we're pleased to announce that this year, it means not only a broadening of scope to more energy commodities, but we've also included an award recognizing exemplary corporate social responsibility," said Patsy Wurster, director of Platts, strategic media, and organizer of the Platts Global Energy Awards.

In 2012, Platts is broadening and expanding its former Operational Excellence category to be commodity specific, recognizing outstanding achievement in each of the following commodity arenas: oil, natural gas, coal, electric power and petrochemicals.

In addition, Platts is also refining its former Community Development Program of the Year award into the Stewardship Award for Corporate Social Responsibility.

As in the past, an independent panel of judges will select the Energy Company of the Year from the list of finalists in the Vision and Leadership and Operational Excellence categories.

Eligible for nomination are any companies doing business in or in close association with the energy industry. Nominations may be submitted by individual energy companies themselves, their clients, their vendors and/or other industry associates. To submit a nomination, learn more about the award categories and see a full listing of past winners and photos, visit www.GlobalEnergyAwards.com.

Once all nominations have been received, finalists will be identified in each category and announced by press release and via the Global Energy Awards website on September 24, 2012.

However, the judges' ultimate decisions as to this year's winners of the Platts Global Energy Awards will not be unveiled until the annual black-tie dinner gala in New York City, which historically has attracted more than 500 industry executives and guests.

The awards dinner, set for Thursday, November 29, 2012 at the Cipriani Wall Street, will be co-hosted by Platts and ten-time principal sponsor Capgemini, one of the world's foremost providers of consulting, technology and outsourcing services. Elster, one of the world's largest electricity, gas and water measurement and control providers, is a co-sponsor of the event for the 5(th) consecutive year.

Among the Platts Global Energy Awards winners in 2011 were Petrobras, winning Energy Company and Energy Producer of the Year awards, Andrew Liveris of The Dow Chemical Company taking CEO of the Year, Southern Company winning Power Company of the Year, and a host of others. Find Fast Facts on Platts Global Energy Awards on the website. For sponsorship opportunities, please contact Vicki Peterson at +1 970-461-1090 or vicki_peterson@platts.com. For more information on Platts, visit www.platts.com.

About Platts: Founded in 1909, Platts is a leading global provider of energy, petrochemicals and metals information and a premier source of benchmark prices for the physical and futures markets. Platts' news, pricing, analytics, commentary and conferences help customers make better-informed trading and business decisions and help the markets operate with greater transparency and efficiency. Customers in more than 150 countries benefit from Platts' coverage of the carbon emissions, coal, electricity, oil, natural gas, metals, nuclear power, petrochemical, and shipping markets. A division of The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP), Platts is headquartered in New York with approximately 900 employees in more than 15 offices worldwide. Additional information is available at http://www.platts.com.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies: McGraw-Hill announced on September 12, 2011, its intention to separate into two public companies: McGraw-Hill Financial, a leading provider of content and analytics to global financial markets, and McGraw-Hill Education, a leading education company focused on digital learning and education services worldwide. McGraw-Hill Financial's leading brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Indices, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. With sales of $6.2 billion in 2011, the Corporation has approximately 23,000 employees across more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

CONTACT:
Kathleen Tanzy
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Kathleen_tanzy@platts.com

SOURCE Platts

SOURCE: Platts