EXHIBIT NO. 10-5

AMENDMENT 2
TO THE NIAGARA MOHAWK
CEO SPECIAL AWARD PLAN

This sets forth Amendment 2
to the Niagara Mohawk CEO Special Award Plan (Plan) , amended and
restated effective June 10, 1997. This Amendment shall be effective as of
January 19, 2001.
1.     Article 2.6, paragraph (3) is amended in its entirety to
read as follows:

|(3) | The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the
Company that requires the approval of the Companys shareholders (whether
for such transaction or the issuance of securities in the transaction), in each
case, unless, immediately following such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, (i) more than 75 % of, the then outstanding shares of common
stock of (A) the corporation resulting from such reorganization, merger or
consolidation (the Surviving Corporation) or (B) if applicable, the
ultimate parent corporation that directly or indirectly has beneficial ownership
of at least 95% of the outstanding shares of common stock of the surviving
corporation (the Parent Corporation) and more than 75% of the
combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Surviving
Corporation (or, if applicable, the Parent Corporation) entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors are then beneficially owned, directly or
indirectly, by all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were
the beneficial owners, respectively, of the Outstanding Shares and Outstanding
Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or
consolidation, in substantially the same proportions as their ownership
immediately prior to such reorganization, merger or consolidation, of the
Outstanding Shares and Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may
be, (ii) no Person (excluding the Company, any employee benefit plan (or related
trust) of the Company, the Surviving Corporation (or, if applicable, the Parent
Corporation) and any Person beneficially owning, immediately prior to such
reorganization, merger or consolidation, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of
the Outstanding Shares or Outstanding Voting Securities, as the case may be)
beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 20% or more of, respectively, the
then outstanding shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation (or, if
applicable, the Parent Corporation) or the combined voting power of the then
outstanding voting securities of the Surviving Corporation (or, if applicable,
the Parent Corporation) entitled to vote generally in the election of directors
and (iii) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the
Surviving Corporation (or, if applicable, the Parent Corporation) were members
of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement
providing for such reorganization, merger or consolidation; or
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2.     Article 14.2 is amended in its entirety to read as follows:

Article 14.2   Change in Control

Upon the occurrence of a Change in Control, as defined herein, unless otherwise specifically prohibited
by the terms of Article 18 herein:

|(a) | If the Change in Control results solely in a cash payment for the outstanding
Shares and such Shares cease to be readily tradeable on a national securities
exchange which is registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or on NASDAQ,
thenany and all SARs granted hereunder shall be deemed to have been
exercised on the date such Change in Control occurs;
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|(b) | If the Change in Control does not result solely in a cash payment for the
outstanding Shares or such Shares continue to be readily tradeable on a national
securities exchange which is registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or
on NASDAQ, then any and all SARs granted hereunder shall be fully and
immediately exercisable and may be exercised at any time in full or in part from
time to time until the end of the Exercise Period. In such event, if the Shares
are converted into the common stock, American Depositary Share
(ADSs) or American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) of the
Person referred to in subsection (1) of Section 2.6, the Surviving Corporation
or the Parent Corporation, then (i) payments for SARS shall be based on the
value of the common stock, ADRs or ADSs (as applicable) of such Person,
Surviving Corporation or Parent Corporation and (ii) the Base Value and number
of SARs shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect the per Share consideration
received by the holders of the Shares. In the event such Change in Control
results in payment of a combination of cash and other property (including common
stock, ADRs or ADSs) for the outstanding Shares, the per Share consideration
shall be deemed to be the change in control price (as such term is defined
below).
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|(c) | Any Vesting Period with respect to Stock Units shall be deemed to have expired,
and there shall be paid out in cash to Participants within thirty (30) days
following the effective date of the Change in Control the cash payment due with
respect to such Stock Units and related Dividend Equivalents, with a Valuation
Period ending on the effective date of the Change in Control. Notwithstanding
the foregoing and the provisions of Section 6.2, if the Change in Control
results in payment of a combination of cash and other property for the
outstanding Shares, the cash payment for each of such Stock Units and related
Dividend Equivalents shall be an amount equal to the change in control price.
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In addition, if the Change in Control occurs pursuant to the transaction described in subsection (3) of
Section 2.6, then any Participant (i) who had an outstanding Award on the date of the approval by the
shareholders of the Corporation of such transaction, (ii) whose employment is terminated after shareholder
approval and prior to the date of the occurrence of the Change in Control, by the Company other than for
cause, by the Participant for good reason (as such terms are defined below), or by the acceptance by the
participant of a position with the acquirer of Niagara MohawkPower Corporations nuclear facilities, and
(iii) who forfeited any Stock Units, Dividend Equivalents or SARs as a result of such termination of employment,
shall receive a cash payment, within thirty (30) days following the date such Change in Control occurs, equal
to (i) with respect to each forfeitedStock Unit and Dividend Equivalent, the change in control price and (ii) with
respect to each forfeited SAR, the result of multiplying (A) the excess of the change in control price over the
Base Value of the SAR by (B) the number of Shares forfeited under such SAR.

For purposes of this Article:

|(i) | cause shall (A) have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Participants employment agreement or change in control severance agreement
with the Company or a subsidiary, if any, and (B) mean, in the absence of an
agreement referred to in clause (A), the Participants having (a)
materially breached his obligations to the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
(b) failed in a willful and continued manner to substantially perform his duties
and responsibilities after a demand for substantial performance is delivered to
the Participant by a direct supervisor or any more senior executive, which
specifically identifies the manner in which the direct supervisor or executive
believes that the Participant has not substantially performed his duties, (c)
been convicted of, or have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere
to, a felony.
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|(ii) | change in control price shall mean the greater of (A) the Fair
Market Value of one Share on the date of the Change in Control or (B) the cash
consideration per Share in such transaction (determined without regard to any
limits on the number of Shares for which a cash payment will be made).
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|(iii) | good reason shall (A) have the meaning ascribed to such term in the
Participants employment agreement or change in control severance agreement
with the Company or a subsidiary, if any, and (B) mean, in the absence of an
agreement referred to in clause (A), the imposition of a requirement that the
Participant be based at an office or location other than one within a 50-mile
radius of the office or a location at which the Participant was based
immediately prior to approval by the Corporations shareholders of the
transaction described in subsection (3) of Section 2.6, or a reduction in the
Participants base annual salary from the rate in effect immediately prior
to such shareholder approval.
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(c)  
All outstanding cash Awards shall be paid in full within 30 days following
the effective date of the Change in Control.

Executed this 17th day of August, 2001.

NIAGARA MOHAWK HOLDINGS, INC.

/s/ David J. Arrington
                  
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                  
David J. Arrington

                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
             
Senior Vice President and

                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
                       
             
Chief Administrative Officer