Due to professional commitments, Richard S. Barton has resigned from the PP&L Resources board of directors.

"It is with regret that we accept the resignation of Rich Barton," said William F. Hecht, PP&L chairman, president and chief executive officer. "His business perspective has been invaluable to our board as changes are coming to the electric industry."

Barton, who has served as a PP&L director since January 1994, said he regrets the need to resign from the board. In his resignation letter to Hecht, Barton expressed his "sincere appreciation for the opportunity to have worked with you and the other board members."

In August, Barton began serving as a Sloan Fellow at Stanford University, a program he will participate in through July 1996. He is on sabbatical from his position as president of United States Customer Operations and a corporate vice president of Xerox Corp. He told the board that his participation in the Stanford program would not afford him the opportunity to "attend board meetings nor to participate prudently, given the physical and time requirements of the Sloan program."

"While we are sorry to lose him from the PP&L board, we certainly are pleased that Rich has been selected to participate in this prestigious Stanford program," said Hecht.

Hecht said a new director would not be appointed at this time. With Barton's resignation, there now are 15 members of the PP&L Resources board. Barton also resigned as a member of the board of Pennsylvania Power & Light Co., PP&L Resources' main subsidiary.