PP&L, Inc. has strengthened its Sales and Marketing organizations to take advantage of new growth opportunities as electricity customer choice becomes available to more customers.

"This new organization will help us build on the successes that we've already had in the customer choice pilot program," said Frank Long, executive vice president and chief operating officer.

John Cotter, who has broad experience in various energy markets, has been named vice president-Business Markets. He is the former manager of wholesale marketing and BTU trading in PP&L's Energy Marketing Center.

Cotter will head the PP&L EnergyPlus sales function for business and industrial customers.

John Sipics, now vice president-Retail Energy Supply, has been named vice president-Market Planning. Sipics will continue to oversee PP&L EnergyPlus marketing functions, including pricing, promotion, advertising, and new product development, as well as marketing and sales to residential customers.

The two groups, which will report directly to Long, will expand staff by recruiting experienced personnel from within PP&L and from outside the company.

"Based on our experiences in Pennsylvania's pilot program, we see a real opportunity to expand our customer base outside our traditional service territory, and to provide additional services beyond electricity to customers both inside and outside that territory," said Long. "To be successful, we need to put in place the people who can meet those needs."

Cotter is a former power trader for off-system energy purchases and sales at PECO Energy Co. He previously served as fuel supply manager for PECO's fossil-fuel plants.

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

Sipics began his PP&L career in 1970 as an engineer in the System Planning Department. He later served as manager-Resource Planning and manager-System Operation before being promoted to general manager-Power Systems Support. In his most recent position, Sipics headed the company's Retail Energy Supply organization. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in electrical engineering from Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.