February 19, 2010

Penn West Energy Trust Confirms February Cash Distribution

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Feb. 19, 2010) - Penn West Energy Trust ("Penn West") (TSX:PWT.UN) (NYSE:PWE) confirms that its February 2010 cash distribution will be CDN$0.15 per trust unit payable on March 15, 2010 to unitholders of record on February 26, 2010. The ex-distribution date is February 24, 2010.

The CDN$0.15 per unit is equivalent to approximately US$0.14 per unit (before deduction of any applicable Canadian withholding tax) using currency exchange of one Canadian dollar equals US$0.95. Registered unitholders with U.S. addresses will receive their distributions directly from Penn West's transfer agent, and will be paid in U.S. currency using the exchange rate in effect on the record date. Non-registered U.S. unitholders will receive their distributions through their brokers.

Penn West trust units and debentures are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbols PWT.UN, PWT.DB.C, PWT.DB.D, PWT.DB.E and PWT.DB.F and Penn West trust units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol PWE.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Penn West Energy Trust
Suite 200, 207 - 9th Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 1K3
(403) 777-2500
Fax: (403) 777-2699
Toll Free: 1-866-693-2707
www.pennwest.com

or

Investor Relations:
Toll Free: 1-888-770-2633
investor_relations@pennwest.com

or

William Andrew
CEO
(403) 777-2502
bill.andrew@pennwest.com

or

Jason Fleury
Manager, Investor Relations
(403) 539-6343
jason.fleury@pennwest.com

INDUSTRY: Energy and Utilities - Oil and Gas