EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
                              --------------------


          THIS  AGREEMENT,  made  this 28th day of February, 2000 by and between
ENERGY  CORPORATION  OF  AMERICA,  whose address is 4643 S. Ulster Street, Suite
1100,  Denver,  Colorado  (hereinafter  "ECA")  and  Michael S. Fletcher, of 411
Country  Cove  Estates,  Scott  Depot,  West  Virginia (hereinafter "Employee").

          WHEREAS,  Employee  is currently President of Mountaineer Gas Company;
And

          WHEREAS,  Employee  has  been  a  valued  employee  of Mountaineer Gas
Company  and  ECA  desires  to  employ  Employee  upon  the terms and conditions
specified  below.

          NOW,  THEREFORE,  in  consideration of the mutual promises hereinafter
contained,  the  parties  agree  as  follows:

          1.     EMPLOYMENT.
                 ----------
               (a)  INITIAL  TERM.  ECA  shall  employ  Employee  and  Employee
                    -------------
accepts  such  employment  upon  the  terms  and  conditions  set  forth in this
Agreement  for an initial term of three (3) years, commencing on the date of the
closing of the sale of the stock of Mountaineer Gas Company to Allegheny Energy,
Inc.  ("Allegheny").

               (b)  RENEWAL.  This  Agreement shall be automatically renewed for
                    -------
one  (1)  additional  year each year after the expiration of the Initial Term as
described  in  Paragraph 1(a) above, unless Employee or ECA gives written notice
to  the  other  at least sixty (60) calendar days prior to the expiration of the
Initial Term or any renewal period of its desire to terminate the Agreement.  If
such  notice  of  termination  is  given  by  either  party,  the Agreement will
terminate by its own terms as set forth in this Agreement, and ECA shall have no
further obligation to pay Employee any compensation or any other amounts, except
for Earned Incentive Compensation, as defined in this Agreement, or as otherwise
required  by  law.


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<PAGE>

          2.     DUTIES.  During the period the Management Agreement between ECA
                 ------
and  Allegheny  remains  in effect, Employee's duties shall be substantially the
same  as  the Employee previously performed for Mountaineer Gas Company.  If the
services  to  be  performed  by  Employee  for  Allegheny  under  the Management
Agreement do not require Employee's full time and attention, then ECA shall have
the  right  to assign additional duties and functions to Employee.  In the event
the  Management  Agreement  is  terminated  during  the  term of this Employment
Agreement,  ECA shall have the right to assign other duties and functions to the
Employee.  ECA  shall  use  its  best  efforts  to assign to Employee duties and
functions  which  are similar to Employee's prior job responsibilities; however,
if no similar positions are available at ECA, Employee agrees to undertake other
responsibilities  and  projects  for  ECA.

          3.     COMPENSATION.  ECA  shall  pay  to  Employee  the  following
                 ------------
compensation:

               (a)  SALARY.  During the term of this Agreement Employee shall be
                    ------
paid  an  annual  salary  of  $229,771.00, payable in semi-monthly installments.
Employee's  salary  shall  be reviewed annually and shall be adjusted upward, if
appropriate,  based  on  Employee's  performance.

               (b)  BENEFITS.  ECA shall provide Employee with health insurance,
                    --------
dental  insurance,  life insurance, and disability insurance.  Employee shall be
eligible  to  participate in ECA's 401k Plan and ECA shall make contributions to
the  Plan  on  behalf of Employee in the percentage amount governed by the Plan,
which currently provides for a contribution by ECA in the amount equal to 33% of
Employee's  contributions  to  the  plan.  Employee  shall  also  be eligible to
participate  in  all  other  health,  educational, insurance, profit-sharing and
wellness  programs  offered  by  ECA  to  its  employees.


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<PAGE>

               (c)  REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.  ECA shall reimburse Employee for
                    -------------------------
all reasonable business-related expenses incurred by Employee in connection with
his employment at ECA, in accordance with the policies, practices and procedures
in  effect  generally  with  respect  to  ECA  employees.

               (d)  LOAN.  In  consideration of Employee's commitment to ECA and
                    ----
fulfillment  of  his duties and obligations hereunder, subject to the provisions
of  Paragraph  4(c)  below,  ECA  shall make a loan to Employee in the amount of
$229,771.00.  ECA  shall  make  the  loan to Employee at the commencement of the
term of this Agreement.  Employee shall execute a Promissory Note, substantially
in  the  form of Exhibit A attached hereto.  If Employee remains employed at ECA
for  the  Initial Term of this Agreement, then, at the expiration of the Initial
Term, ECA shall cancel all sums due ECA from Employee under the Promissory Note.

               (e)  EARNED  INCENTIVE  COMPENSATION.  At  the  expiration of the
                    -------------------------------
Initial  Term  of this Agreement, Employee shall receive 2,370 shares of Class A
stock  in  ECA.

          4.     TERMINATION  OF  EMPLOYMENT.
                 ---------------------------

               (a)  BY  DEATH  OR  DISABILITY.  Employee's  employment  with ECA
                    -------------------------
shall  terminate  automatically  upon  Employee's  death.  ECA  may  terminate
Employee's  employment  during  any period in which Employee is prevented, after
reasonable  accommodation  by  ECA, from properly performing his duties due to a
mental  or physical illness for a period of three months in the aggregate in any
twelve  month  period.

               (b)  FOR CAUSE.  Notwithstanding any other provision contained in
                    ---------
this  Agreement,  ECA may terminate this Agreement immediately, at any time, for
cause.  For  purposes  of this Agreement "for cause" shall be deemed to include:
(1)  any  willful breach or habitual neglect of the Employee's duties that he is
required  to  perform  under  the terms of this Agreement; (2) commission of any
material  act  of  dishonesty,  fraud,  misrepresentation, or other act of moral
turpitude;  (3) gross carelessness or misconduct; (4) violation of any fiduciary
duty  owed  to  ECA;  and  (5)  conviction  of  a  felony.


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<PAGE>

          5.     OBLIGATIONS  OF  EMPLOYEE  ON  TERMINATION.
                 ------------------------------------------

               (a)  Employee  acknowledges  and  agrees  that  all  property,
including  keys,  credit  cards,  books,  manuals,  records,  reports,  notes,
contracts,  confidential  information,  copies  of any of the foregoing, and any
equipment  furnished  to  Employee  by  ECA  belong to ECA and shall be promptly
returned  to  ECA  upon  termination  of  employment.

               (b)  Upon  termination of employment, Employee shall be deemed to
have  resigned  from  all  offices  and  directorships  held  at  ECA.

               (c)  REPAYMENT  OF  LOAN.  If  Employee  resigns  or  otherwise
                    -------------------
voluntarily  terminates  his  employment from ECA prior to the expiration of the
Initial  Term  of this Agreement, or if ECA terminates Employee's employment for
cause  as defined in Paragraph 4(b) above prior to the expiration of the Initial
Term  of  this  Agreement,  then  all amounts outstanding under the loan made to
Employee  pursuant  to  Paragraph  3(d)  above  shall become due and payable and
Employee shall repay such loan to ECA within ten (10) days of the termination of
his  employment.

          6.       OBLIGATIONS  OF  ECA  ON  TERMINATION.
                   -------------------------------------

               (a)  DEATH,  DISABILITY,  OR FOR CAUSE.  If Employee's employment
                    ---------------------------------
is  terminated  by  reason  of  Employee's death or disability, or if Employee's
employment  is  terminated  by ECA for cause as provided in this Agreement, this
Agreement  shall  terminate  as  provided  by its terms and ECA's obligations to
Employee  under  this  Agreement shall be limited to (i) the prorated payment of
Employee's  salary  through  the  date  of termination to the extent not paid by


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<PAGE>

then;  (ii)  the  payment  of  any  unused  earned  vacation through the date of
termination;  and  (iii)  the payment of any reimbursable business expenses that
were  documented  by  Employee  prior  to  termination  in accordance with ECA's
policies  and  that were not reimbursed by ECA at the time of the termination of
this  Agreement.  As  of  the  date  of  termination  of  this  Agreement, ECA's
obligations  to Employee under this Agreement shall terminate, and ECA will have
no  further  obligation  to  pay  Employee or his estate, beneficiaries or legal
representatives  any  compensation  or  any  other  amounts, except as otherwise
provided by law.  If Employee's employment is terminated by reason of Employee's
death  or disability, then ECA shall cancel all sums due ECA from Employee under
the  Promissory  Note.

          (b)  FOR  REASONS  OTHER  THAN  DEATH,  DISABILITY,  OR FOR CAUSE.  If
               ------------------------------------------------------------
Employee's  employment  is  terminated  by  ECA  for  reasons  other than death,
disability  or  for cause, ECA's obligations to Employee shall be limited to (i)
the payment of Employee's salary and the continuation of Employee's benefits for
the  period from the date of termination until the end of the Initial Term; (ii)
the  cancellation  of  all sums due and owing ECA under the Promissory Note; and
(iii)  the  issuance  of the shares of Class A stock described in Paragraph 3(e)
above.

          7.     ARBITRATION.
                 -----------

               (a)  All  claims, disputes, controversies or disagreements of any
kind  whatsoever ("Claims") including any claims arising out of or in connection
with Employee's employment or the termination of Employee's employment, that may
arise  between  Employee  and  ECA,  including any claims that may arise between
Employee  and  ECA's officers, directors, employees, or agents in their capacity
as  such,  shall  be  submitted  to  arbitration before the American Arbitration
Association  in  Charleston,  West  Virginia  in  accordance  with the rules and
procedures  of  the  American  Arbitration  Association  then  existing.

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<PAGE>

               (b)  The fees and costs of the arbitration shall be borne equally
by  the  Employee and ECA, except that Employee and ECA shall each pay for their
own  attorneys' fees or costs of representation for purposes of the arbitration,
unless  otherwise  provided  by  law.

          8.     ASSIGNMENT.  This  Agreement  is personal to Employee and shall
                 ----------
not  be  assigned by Employee.  Any such assignment shall be null and void.  ECA
shall  have  the  right  to assign its obligations hereunder to any affiliate or
subsidiary  of  ECA.

          9.     SUCCESSORS.  This  Agreement  shall inure to the benefit and be
                 ----------
binding  upon  ECA  and  its subsidiaries, successors and assigns and any person
acquiring,  whether  by  merger,  consolidation,  or  the  purchase  of  all  or
substantially all of ECA's assets.  The rights of Employee to receive payment of
compensation  provided for in this Agreement shall inure to the benefit, and may
be  enforced  by,  Employee's  estate  in  the  event  of  his  death.

          10.     WAIVER.  No delay or omission by ECA or Employee in exercising
                  ------
any  right  under  this Agreement shall operate as a waiver of that or any other
right.  No  waiver  of  any  provision  of  this  Agreement,  or  consent to any
departure  by  either  party  from  any  provision  of  this  Agreement shall be
effective  in any event unless it is in writing, designated a waiver, and signed
by  the  party  waiving  the breach.  Such waiver shall be effective only in the
specific  instance  and  for  the  purpose  for  which  it  is  given.

          11.     SEVERABILITY.  The provisions of this Agreement are divisible;
                  ------------
if  any provision shall be deemed invalid or unenforceable, that provision shall
be deemed limited to the extent necessary to render it valid and enforceable and
the  remaining  provisions  of  this  Agreement shall continue in full force and
effect  without  being  impaired  or  invalidated  in  any  way.


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<PAGE>

          12.     AMENDMENT.  This  Agreement  may  not  be  altered or amended,
                  ---------
except  in  a  writing  signed  by  both  Employee  and  ECA.

          13.     CONSTRUCTION  AND  GOVERNING  LAW.  The  captions  used  in
                  ---------------------------------
connection  with this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not be
construed  as  part  of this Agreement.  This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed  in  accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  State  of  West  Virginia.

          14.     ENTIRE  AGREEMENT.  This  Agreement  supersedes  all  prior
                  -----------------
agreements, understandings, and communications between Employee and ECA, whether
written  or  oral,  express  or  implied, relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement and is intended as a complete and final expression of the terms of the
Agreement between Employee and ECA and shall not be changed or subject to change
orally.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the
date  and  year  first  above  written.

                              ENERGY  CORPORATION  OF  AMERICA


                              By  /S/ John Mork
                                --------------------------------------
                                   John  Mork,  President  and  CEO



                                 /S/ Michael S. Fletcher
                                --------------------------------------
                                   Michael  S.  Fletcher

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<PAGE>

                                    EXHIBIT A


                                 PROMISSORY NOTE



$229,771.00                                             Charleston,  WV
                                                                ,  2000
                                                -----------------



          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, THE UNDERSIGNED, Michael S. Fletcher ("Borrower"),
hereby promises to pay to the order of Energy Corporation of America ("Lender"),
at  its  offices  located  at  4643  South  Ulster  Street,  Suite 1100, Denver,
Colorado,  80237,  or  at  such  other place as the holder may from time to time
designate,  the  principal  sum  of  $229,771.00,  in lawful money of the United
States,  and  to  pay interest thereon in like money at said office from January
11,  2000  on  the  unpaid principal balance hereof at the rate of eight percent
(8%)  per  annum.

          The  principal  amount  due  hereunder  together with interest thereon
shall  be  paid  three  (3) years from the date of this Note; provided, however,
that  such  repayment  obligations shall be cancelled (i) if Borrower remains in
the  continuous  employment,  in good standing, of Energy Corporation of America
for  a  period  of  three  (3)  years from the date of this Note; or (ii) Energy
Corporation  of  America  terminates  Borrower's employment at any time prior to
three  (3) years from the date of this Note, for any reason other than cause; or
(iii)  the  Borrower's  death  or  disability.

          Borrower  waives  diligence, demand, presentment, notice of nonpayment
and  protest,  and  assent to extensions of the time of payment, forbearance, or
other  indulgence,  without  notice.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Borrower has caused this Note to be executed as of
the  date  and  year  first  above  written.



                                   -------------------------------------
                                        MICHAEL  S.  FLETCHER