EXHIBIT 23(a)
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated February 3, 2000 relating to the
financial statements and financial statement schedule, which appears in
Monongahela Power Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999. We also consent to the reference to us under the
heading "Experts" in such Registration Statement.
\S\ Price Waterhouse Coopers LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
May 22, 2000
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