Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers

(c) On May 22, 2009, Allegheny Energy, Inc. ("AE") announced that it has appointed Rodney L. Dickens to serve, effective June 8, 2009, as President of its electric transmission and distribution business, Allegheny Power, which includes Monongahela Power Company, The Potomac Edison Company and West Penn Power Company. Mr. Dickens, who will also serve as Vice President of AE, was most recently Vice President, Asset Management & Centralized Services with Public Service Electric & Gas Company, where he has worked in various capacities for the past 32 years. Mr. Dickens will receive a base salary of $350,000 per year, and will be eligible to receive annual incentive compensation under AE's Annual Incentive Plan, with a target bonus opportunity of 50% of his base salary and a maximum bonus opportunity of 100% of his base salary, provided that his bonus for 2009 will be prorated to reflect his period of employment for 2009. Additionally, Mr. Dickens will be entitled to equity grants under AE's 2008 Long-Term Incentive Plan consisting of (i) 17,953 stock options, which will vest in three equal annual installments from 2010 through 2012 and (ii) 4,710 performance shares, with a performance period of January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2011. Mr. Dickens will be eligible to participate in AE's Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan, as well as in certain other employee benefit and compensation plans maintained by AE, and will be entitled to benefits under AE's Executive Severance Plan and Executive Change in Control Severance Plan, in each case as a Tier I participant. A copy of the press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Dickens is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

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Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. Exhibit No. Description 99.1 Press release issued by Allegheny Energy, Inc. on May 22, 2009.

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