Separation

The Pennsylvania Electric Association (PEA) and the PennsylvaniaGas Association (PGA) have agreed to reunite after 37 years ofseparation. The two will merge into the newly created EnergyAssociation of Pennsylvania. The governing bodies of bothassociations announced that Richard Bunn, who in the past hadserved as chairman of both groups, will be CEO while a searchcommittee looks for its new leader. John Marshall, chairman of PEAand president of Duquesne Light said the merger will allow bothindustries to “retain their strategic focus while enabling us tocombine resources and knowledge to produce a more efficient andeffective effort in representing the interests of our customers,shareholders and employees in the public policy arena.” PGAChairman John Sipics, president of PPL Gas Utilities said it “makessense because the two associations were pursuing similar objectivesand activities to meet the challenges faced by the regulated energydelivery business, including making the transition to competitiveretail markets.” PEA was established in 1908 and at that time gasutilities were members. In 1963, the gas utilities formed their ownassociation. Earlier this year the electric power generationcompanies spun off from PEA and joined with other major powerproducers in the state to form the Electric Power GenerationAssociation.