Reliant Energy to Move PA Headquarters to Pittsburgh Area
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - January 29, 2003
Frank Reeves
Jan. 29--Texas-based power giant Reliant Energy Inc. yesterday said it plans to close its Johnstown regional headquarters and move the operations to the Pittsburgh area by the end of the year.
Reliant said the move will affect 135 employees, including engineers, managers and support staff. Most likely will be offered a chance to relocate to Pittsburgh.
The company already employs 15 in a satellite office in Findlay, near the Pittsburgh International Airport. Throughout the state, it employs 1,100.
Reliant, which has 17 operating power plants in the state and is building two more and renovating a third, has become a major producer of electricity in the state in recent years.
Its growth was propelled by its February, 2000, purchase of 21 power plants from New York-based Sithe Energies Inc., 16 of which were in Pennsylvania. It also bought four power plants last year from Orion Midwest, which had purchased them in 2000 from DQE Inc., the Downtown-based parent of Duquesne Light Co.
Orion had been under contract to provide electricity to Duquesne Light's customers who didn't want to switch to an alternative supplier but continue to purchase their electricity from Duquesne Light.
As part of its deal with Orion, Reliant agreed to take on those customers.One reason Reliant decided to move its Pennsylvania headquarters to Pittsburgh was to be near the Pittsburgh International Airport, which will make it easier to integrate its East Coast operations, spokesman Rick Kelly said. No decision has been made on where the new headquarters will be located, he added. |
