GPU Energy names new vice president.

READING, PA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 25, 1997--Charles A. Mascari has been named GPU Energy vice president, Power Services -- a new position created to accommodate the merging of several functions from GPU Service into GPU Energy. GPU Service and GPU Energy are both subsidiaries of GPU, Inc.

This move builds stronger senior management support of GPU Energy as electric utility industry competition faces Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Mascari, who becomes the sixth vice president of GPU Energy, will oversee the following areas: Supply Planning, Power Contracts, Resource Management, Project 1999 and Energy Services.

Mascari was formerly vice president, Power Services, for GPU Service, elected in 1994.

Mascari also has served as vice president, Nuclear Assurances for GPU Nuclear. He held positions as Quality Assurance Director, Financial Analysis Assistant Comptroller and Engineering Services Director -- all with GPU Nuclear.

Mascari joined the GPU System in 1978 as a project engineer for GPU Service. Before joining GPU, he was an engineer with the nuclear energy systems division of Westinghouse Electric Corporation.

Mascari earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Lehigh University in 1969, and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Pittsburgh in 1973. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in Pennsylvania.

Mascari is a native of Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He and his family currently reside in Sparta, New Jersey.

GPU Energy Vice President Doug Howe will take on new responsibilities in GPU Energy Information and Planning, responsible for the following functions: Customer Relations, Business Solutions, Strategic Planning and Information Technology Services. IT Services is being transferred from GPU Service to GPU Energy.

Customer Relations has been transferred to Howe's new organization from Customer Operations. The grouping of Customer Relations with Business Solutions, Strategic Planning and IT Services will allow for the integrated development of business plans that will focus on the customer.

In 1994, Howe was named director of marketing and pricing at JCP&L. He began his career with the GPU System in 1982 as a member of the Information Service Division. Prior to his association with GPU, he was an assistant professor of mathematics at Haverford College.

He received his bachelor of science degree in mathematics from Kansas State University. In 1974, he received a master's degree in mathematics, and in 1977, he received a Ph.D. in mathematics, both from the University of Pennsylvania. Howe is also a graduate of the Duke University Advanced Management Program for Executives.

Howe currently resides in Reading, Pennsylvania.

The other vice presidents are:

-- Don Myers, Finance and Rates, responsible for Financial Support,

Budget and Cost Analysis and Rates in New Jersey and

Pennsylvania.

-- George Repko, Customer Operations, responsible for Regional

Operations, Engineering and Operations and Emerging Technology

and Telecommunications, which is being added to Customer

Operations.

-- Carole Snyder, Public Affairs, responsible for Communications,

Economic Development and Governmental and Regulatory Affairs in

New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

-- Bob Zechman, Corporate Services, responsible for Human Resources,

Labor Relations and Safety, Materials and Services, Environmental

Affairs and Corporate Development.

CONTACT: GPU Energy

Kerry McGuinness, 610/921-6028

Home: 610/927-0880