Deregulation reshapes company

In the 1990s, the electric industry entered an era of consolidation and deregulation. As a result, PP&L restructured from a geographically organized traditional electric utility in a natural monopoly environment to a functionally organized electric power supplier in a competitive environment.

The company forms a holding company called PP&L Resources, Inc., which becomes the parent company of the regulated electric utility, Pennsylvania Power & Light Company, and the newly formed, unregulated subsidiary called Power Markets Development Company. This new subsidiary was created to invest in power projects domestically and overseas.

PP&L becomes the first Pennsylvania utility to endorse electric generation market competition. Representatives from the company help craft legislation that allows customers to choose their electricity generation supplier. The legislation is signed into law in early December.

The company would become the first utility to receive a license from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to sell electricity and energy services in Pennsylvania’s newly deregulated market.

Pennsylvania Power & Light Company changes its name to PP&L, Inc. and its parent company, PP&L Resources, Inc., unveils a new logo for both the utility and the holding company.

PP&L becomes the first utility to receive a license from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to sell electricity and energy services in Pennsylvania’s newly formed competitive power market.