Fifteen municipal electric utilities in central, northeastern and southeastern Pennsylvania have selected PP&L, Inc., as their wholesale electricity supplier.

The municipal utilities will benefit from lower prices for electricity over the next three to five years. PP&L, Inc.'s Energy Marketing Center is providing price reductions in 2000 and 2001. The municipal utilities could see further reductions in 2002 and 2003, depending on the market price of electricity at that time.

The contracts took effect Feb. 1.

"PP&L, Inc., understands the needs of municipal electric utilities. We have provided them reliable supply and creative solutions for 50 years," said Michael T. Steffes, vice president of Energy Marketing and Trading for PP&L, Inc.

Steffes said PP&L, Inc.'s advantages to municipal utilities include more than 8 million kilowatts of generation capacity and the expertise of its Energy Marketing Center to help municipalities manage costs.

"PP&L, Inc., has consistently shown the ability and willingness to compete in today's market," said F. Lee Mangan, manager of Lansdale borough in Montgomery County and chairman of the negotiating committee on behalf of the 15 municipalities. "We look forward to the continuation of a mutually beneficial relationship."

In addition to Lansdale, municipalities that have signed electricity supply contracts with PP&L, Inc., are Blakely, Catawissa, Duncannon, Hatfield, Kutztown, Lehighton, Mifflinburg, Olyphant, Perkasie, Quakertown, Schuylkill Haven, St. Clair, Watsontown and Weatherly.

In addition to serving municipal utilities in Pennsylvania, PP&L, Inc.'s Energy Marketing Center provides wholesale electricity to the town of Easton, Md., which has 8,300 electric customers, and to Citizens' Electric Co. of Lewisburg, Pa., which has 6,200 customers.