Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. is continuing to prepare for a more competitive energy marketplace by expanding its wholesale energy trading operation.

"We're pursuing new opportunities for business by increasing our power marketing and trading staff, coordinating wholesale and retail marketing efforts, and offering a new service: wholesale buying, selling and trading of natural gas," said Frank A. Long, PP&L executive vice president and chief operating officer.

PP&L will deliver comprehensive energy services that meet customers' needs, Long added. In the wholesale electricity market, which is open to competition, PP&L already is buying, selling and trading electricity in 18 states.

To lead its expanding Energy Marketing organization, PP&L has hired an executive with 20 years of experience in energy buying, selling and trading.

John F. Cotter comes to PP&L from PECO Energy Co., where he was a power trader for off-system energy purchases and sales. He previously had served as fuel supply manager for PECO's fossil-fuel power plants.

Prior to joining PECO, Cotter had served in executive and management positions in the oil industry, specializing in trading, marketing and supply. He has an accounting degree from Widener University in Chester, Pa.

At PP&L, Cotter's title is manager of Energy Marketing and Gas Trading. He reports to Long.

"John Cotter is an important addition to PP&L's marketing organization," Long said. "He brings valuable energy industry experience, with a strong background in trading and in futures markets that will help PP&L be successful as more customers are able to choose their energy supplier."

The Energy Marketing organization will work closely with PP&L's newly formed Retail Energy Supply group in developing marketing strategies for both wholesale and retail business.

"We are bringing wholesale and retail marketing efforts together to increase business opportunities for PP&L. And by expanding services, we will be able to offer complete energy packages that include electricity, natural gas or a combination of both," Long said.

PP&L's Retail Energy Supply group will compete with other suppliers to sell energy to customers throughout Pennsylvania — including present PP&L customers — and across the Mid-Atlantic region as more people are able to choose an energy supplier.

In Pennsylvania, all retail electricity customers will have an opportunity to select the company that generates their electricity as early as 2001.