GPU Energy Makes NERC Year 2000 Readiness Filing.

READING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 30, 1999--

GPU Energy, in accordance with its Year 2000 schedule, today filed its Year 2000 readiness status update with the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC). GPU Energy also submitted documents which categorize and summarize the hundreds of Year 2000 contingency plans it has prepared as a "defense in depth" measure in response to unexpected, but theoretically conceivable Year 2000-related risk scenarios. The contingency plans have been prepared to further ensure the reliability and availability of systems needed to provide safe, reliable power, or through which GPU Energy responds to its customer inquiries.

"This NERC filing is a milestone for GPU Energy," said Dick Becker, GPU Energy manager, Information Technology Strategy, and project manager for the Year 2000 program. "Out of the thousands of mission-critical systems at GPU Energy that were originally considered at risk of a Year 2000 failure, only two have not as yet been remediated and tested. The two mission-critical items remaining are the implementation of a new customer care business system and the remediation and testing of the Digital Turbine Control System (DTCS) at Three Mile Island. The final activities which will make these two items Year 2000 Ready commence in September. The contingency plans that have been prepared provide further safeguards that these mission-critical systems will continue to support the needs of our customers," he said.

NERC has been assigned by the Department of Energy to assess the readiness of North American electric service providers for Year 2000.

GPU Energy has a full-time Year 2000 project office focused on meeting all Year 2000 challenges. Additionally, all business units are participating in a broad-based program to address Year 2000 concerns. At GPU Energy, a five-step program has been used to inventory, assess, remediate, test and monitor equipment, systems, and processes that may have a potential Year 2000 risk. Customers with questions or comments about the Year 2000 program at GPU Energy can submit them to GPU Energy's Year 2000 project office via the year 2000 mailbox at [e-mail]. There is also a toll-free number dedicated to answering Year 2000 questions. That number is 1-888-GPU-4Y2K or 1-888-478-4925. Or, visit our website at www.gpu.com.

GPU, Inc., headquartered in Morristown, NJ, has three domestic operating utility subsidiaries -- Jersey Central Power & Light Company, Metropolitan Edison Company and Pennsylvania Electric Company -- all doing business under the trade name of GPU Energy. It manages the largest electric distribution system across New Jersey and Pennsylvania, serving approximately two million customers and covering half the land mass of the two states. The subsidiaries have assets that are used and/or maintained by GPU Generation, Inc., GPU Nuclear, Inc., and GPU Service, Inc.