Leaders from municipal government, education, business organizations and community agencies in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties glimpsed into the future of energy at a forum Thursday (9/18) sponsored by PPL Electric Utilities and a host of local businesses and organizations.

The energy forum featured presentations on new technologies, renewable energy, tools for using energy wisely and programs to assist low-income families with their energy bills.

“With growing interest in energy issues locally, and across the country, we hosted this forum to give community leaders a better understanding of what PPL and others in the area are doing to educate consumers, encourage wise energy use, and help our neighbors with financial hardships, so they can convey those messages to the people they serve,” said Martha Herron, PPL community relations director.

Community leaders attending the forum at the Best Western Genetti Inn and Suites in Hazleton heard messages of energy conservation from Jan Jarrett, president and chief executive officer of Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future, and David G. DeCampli, president of PPL Electric Utilities.

“Energy conservation is the fastest, easiest and cheapest way to ensure reliable electricity supply,” Jarrett said. Citizens for Pennsylvania’s Future is an organization that works to protect environmental quality and grow the economy.

“Saving energy saves money, and at the same time creates good jobs, helps clean the air and fights global warming. As electricity rate caps expire, energy conservation is the most powerful tool we have to keep prices down,” she said.

DeCampli noted that PPL Electric Utilities has been talking with customers for more than two years about rising energy costs and generation rate caps, which expire for PPL Electric Utilities at the end of 2009.

“There is no doubt that using energy wisely is an effective way to reduce electric bills,” he said. “We have installed advanced meters, we are giving customers access to detailed information about their electricity use, we are buying electricity for 2010 ahead of time, we are offering customers an option to spread out the expected increase in 2010 over several years — and there is more to come.”

The energy forum included exhibits on energy savings and energy technologies by PPL Electric Utilities, PPL Renewable Energy, Home Depot, Penn State Hazleton, PennTAP, Commission on Economic Opportunity, Schuylkill County’s Vision, the Hazleton Standard-Speaker and WNEP-TV’s Power to Save Program.

Forum sponsors in addition to PPL include the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, United Way of Greater Hazleton, CAN DO, Penn State Hazleton, Commission on Economic Opportunity, Schuylkill Community Action, Schuylkill County’s Vision, Northeast Pennsylvania Manufacturers and Employers Association, Home Depot, the Hazleton Standard-Speaker, WYLN-TV, El Mensajero and Local News 13.

PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, a subsidiary of PPL Corporation that provides electricity delivery services to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania, has consistently ranked among the best companies for customer service in the United States. More information is available at www.pplelectric.com.