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An electrifying company Approximately 1.4 million people depend on Allegheny Power System for everything from their Monday morning coffee to their Sunday night TV. Through its three electric company subsidiaries, Allegheny Power System serves an area of about 29,000 square miles in parts of Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. The powerful 100-year-old power company also owns AYP Capital, an investment subsidiary. Electricity generated by Allegheny Power is delivered to customers by about 5,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines and over 58,000 miles of distribution lines. Recent deregulation of the electrical utility industry, allowing for competition for local electric service, has forced the company to reorganize and downsize. To merge or not to merge Recent government actions aimed at curbing pollution like the Clean Air Act of 1990 have hit companies like Allegheny particularly hard. The company's cost of compliance is estimated at about $2 billion dollars. In 1998, Allegheny announced a merger with DQE, a Pennsylvania holding company for subsidiaries that provide electricity and power-related services. But DQE backed out of the $4.3 billion deal, causing a heated battle between the energy giants. Allegheny sued DQE, accusing it of backing out of an agreement. A successful merger would have created the 10th-largest investor-owned utility in the nation based on total electric sales, serving more than 4.5 million customers. Recent developments at Allegheny have included the company's acquisitions of Mountaineer Gas Co., and of UtiliCorp United's West Virigina Power. The company has also expanded its offices in New Jersey and in Pennsylvania, and it has acquired an interest in the Conemaugh Generating Station. Finally, in summer 2000, Allegheny announced plans for an IPO.
Allegheny offers a variety of positions, listed at www.alleghenyenergy.com/hr/hrhomepage.htm, though recent industry deregulation has resulted in a hiring chill. Send or fax resumes to the company's human resources department. The interview process is described by insiders as "friendly," "comfortable" and "professional", although one contact describes his interview as "stressful". Expect "typical background questions" and "a couple of tests". Overall, though, technical ability will probably not be questioned because "your education and grades will answer that question." Several contacts report that the firm "first [tries] to recruit from among current employees", making it sometimes difficult to come in from the outside, but leaving "plenty of opportunity to move up in the organization."
Hail the engineers Government deregulation hasn't made electrical utilities the brightest industry for job seekers, and seems to have taken a toll on Allegheny employees' morale. Though hours vary by position, many employees work overtime as a result of recent downsizing. One employee criticizes the department hierarchy at Allegheny, saying, "Some job positions are considered 'more worthy' than others. Engineers are considered the gods of the company." Any energy for diversity? Employees also note that the workforce is less than diverse. Says one employee, "For a company this size, I don't feel we have an appropriate proportion of minorities." Despite many negative comments, some employees sport more positive views. According to one employee, reorganization has also changed the corporate environment at Allegheny, which is more relaxed than it used to be. In addition, most employees praised friendly co-workers, frequent company activities, and a "top-notch" 401(k) plan. Changing for the better Most employees agree that the company has made a conscious effort to "get with the times", a policy which has resulted in the dress code changing from "formal and rigid to relaxed and functional". Every employee gets his own PC and Internet access. One contact notes, "employees are encouraged to take action to make changes that will improve profits, or customer service, or safety, or efficiency." Employees at Allegheny's corporate centers for the most part report working "eight-hour days". But depending on what part of the company they work for, hours can vary. One contact working at a service center notes "hours can be long as required by adverse weather and other conditions."
Human Resources
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AEP;PECO Energy More Company Profiles For more career information, go to Vault.com ©2000, Vault.com Inc
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