Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. will join the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce and state Rep. David Argall (R-Schuylkill County) in hosting a seminar on what electricity customer choice will mean to the consumer.

The seminar, "Choices in Electricity: What It Means To You," will be held at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, March 13, at the Tamaqua Community Center, Rear Center St., Tamaqua.

The seminar will consist of a presentation and a question-and-answer session.

"PP&L has been a leading advocate of bringing choice to electricity customers throughout Pennsylvania," said Martha Herron, PP&L's community development director in Tamaqua. "We are committed to providing customers with the information they need to make educated choices in selecting their electricity supplier. The presentation will provide an opportunity for consumers to learn about this issue."

The state General Assembly passed customer choice legislation last November and Gov. Tom Ridge signed it into law in December. The law phases in customer choice beginning as early as 1999 with about one-third of the state's electric customers. All customers will have choice as early as 2001.

PP&L and other electric utilities in the state will offer customer choice pilot programs to test the concept. The state Public Utility Commission is reviewing the pilot plan proposals. Once approved by the PUC, the pilot programs could begin as early as this summer.

"We are pleased to join with the Chamber and Rep. Argall to present this seminar," Herron said. "The business community and Rep. Argall have been very supportive of customer choice and have taken a lead role in the effort to educate consumers."

For more information on the seminar, contact Herron at (717) 459-7314.