GPU Energy Completes Restoration in Wake of Tropical Storm.

READING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 21, 1999--

GPU Energy crews have completed the massive restoration and clean up effort in the wake of Tropical Storm Floyd.

At the height of the storm, more than 390,000 GPU Energy customers across Pennsylvania and New Jersey experienced interruptions to their electric service.

"The damage to GPU Energy equipment as a result of this storm was one of the worst we have ever experienced," said Robert Zechman, vice president of infrastructure for GPU Energy. "Crews had to literally rebuild quite a bit of our transmission and distribution system to restore electric service."

The tropical storm caused widespread damage in the GPU Energy service area that stretches from Lake Erie, Pennsylvania to the Atlantic Ocean in New Jersey. Overall, crews worked at more than 8,400 trouble locations to repair or replace 312 downed electric utility poles; 2,977 downed primary wires; and 398 transformers.

GPU Energy crews from the company's western Pennsylvania service area were dispatched to hardest hit areas to assist in restoration efforts. More than 400 GPU Energy crews worked around the clock to return customers' electric service.

GPU Energy also received assistance from 100 local line contractor crews, as well as crews from Michigan, Illinois, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

"I have the utmost respect for the work our employees did in the wake of this storm," said George Repko, vice president of business development for GPU Energy. "The crews worked under extremely adverse conditions. They had to clear debris from fallen trees and make their way through flood waters before they could even begin the process of restoring service. They did an incredible amount of work to restore electric service to our customers."

Repko also praised county, local and state officials for their cooperation. He stated that their assistance is an integral part of the information flow between GPU Energy and municipalities, government agencies, and ultimately, customers.

"The people I'd most like to thank is our customers," Repko continued. "Those are the people who were most inconvenienced by the outages. GPU Energy can make all the necessary preparations before a storm, but we can never be fully prepared for the amount of damage in an emergency of this magnitude. Our customers were helpful in providing information, and above all, patient, while we worked to bring everyone's service back as quickly and safely as possible."

In addition to the crew complement, more than 3,000 GPU Energy employees - including meter readers, engineers and office support -- worked around the clock to assist in restoration efforts. GPU Energy employees:

- Worked as spotters to determine equipment in need of repair;

- Relocated to offices of emergency management to work with

customers who had safety concerns;

- Staffed areas in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey where dry ice

and water were provided to customers.

The GPU Energy Customer Service Center reported that more than 207,000 storm-related outage calls were fielded through both the Pennsylvania and New Jersey Call Centers.

The GPU Energy service area in central New Jersey was the first area to complete restoration work. As crews reported to temporary staging areas set up across the state, they were deployed to assist in northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania.

The majority of GPU Energy customers were restored by Monday, September 20, with the exception of customers in areas ravaged by flooding. Total restoration was completed early Tuesday, September 21.