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From Mirror staff reports
READING -- Tracing its roots to a handful of companies that illuminated downtown streetlights -- from dusk until an hour after the saloons closed in some spots -- the Pennsylvania Electric Co., a FirstEnergy Corp. utility, marks its 100th anniversary on Monday.
What began long ago as a tiny company in Philipsburg with 16 customers along 2 miles of line, Penelec has evolved into a modern electric utility with more than 700 employees serving nearly 600,000 customers throughout a 17,000-square-mile service territory, the largest footprint of any FirstEnergy utility.
"The world has changed immeasurably over the last hundred years, and Penelec has been there each step of the way, delivering safe, reliable electric service to our customers," Nick Austin, Penelec's regional president, said in a statement. "Our employees continue to work tirelessly to satisfy our customers' desire for the latest electric conveniences and technologies."
Penelec will celebrate its 100th anniversary with active employees over breakfast in Altoona, Johnstown, Erie and 14 other company locations on Monday. Penelec retirees will be honored at receptions where they can visit with former co-workers, swap stories, view old photos and watch a video.
Retiree receptions are scheduled throughout next week at company locations.
State Rep. Parke Wentling, a Republican representing parts of Crawford, Erie, Lawrence and Mercer counties, will present a resolution in honor of Penelec's milestone anniversary on Tuesday in Harrisburg. Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania operations, will join Austin to accept the resolution on the floor of the state House of Representatives.