READING — Tracing its roots to a handful of companies that illuminated downtown streetlights – from dusk until an hour after the saloons closed in some spots – the Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), a FirstEnergy Corp. utility, marks its 100th anniversary on June 10.

What began long ago as a tiny company in Philipsburg, with 16 customers along 2 miles of line, Penelec has evolved into a modern electric utility with more than 700 employees serving nearly 600,000 customers throughout a sprawling 17,000- square-mile service territory, the largest footprint of any FirstEnergy utility.

“The world has changed immeasurably over the last hundred years, and Penelec has been there each step of the way, delivering safe, reliable electric service to our customers,” said Nick Austin, Penelec’s regional president. “Our employees continue to work tirelessly to satisfy our customers’ desire for the latest electric conveniences and technologies.”

Penelec will celebrate its 100th anniversary with active employees over breakfast in Johnstown, Erie, Altoona and 14 other company locations on June 10. Penelec retiree receptions are scheduled throughout the week of June 10.

On June 10, 1919, the numerous electric companies that powered towns and cities such as Erie, Warren, Huntingdon, Lewistown, Bedford, Punxsutawney, Towanda and Oil City consolidated to form the Penn Public Service Corporation, headquartered in Johnstown. It was “grow or go” time for the fledgling industry, and Penn Public Service would swallow more than 20 small electric companies via mergers and acquisitions over the next decade.

In 1946, Penelec became part of General Public Utilities (GPU), which merged with FirstEnergy Corp. in 2001.