Electric Grid Enhancements Completed in the Mahoning Valley

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy's subsidiary, American Transmission Systems, completed a $5 million upgrade to a 22-mile transmission line in Mahoning and Columbiana counties, Ohio. Approximately 250 new horizontal post insulators were installed, replacing crossarms and some poles. This project aims to enhance grid reliability and prevent outages for about 1,500 Ohio Edison customers. The work started in August 2022 and concluded in March 2024. This is part of the Energize365 program, which plans $26 billion in grid investments from 2024 to 2028 to enhance reliability and support future energy demands.

Positive

• Completed a $5 million project to enhance grid reliability.
• Installed approximately 250 new horizontal post insulators.
• Upgraded a 22-mile transmission line, replacing crossarms and some poles.
• Enhanced grid reliability for approximately 1,500 Ohio Edison customers.
• Part of the Energize365 program, aiming for $26 billion in grid investments from 2024 to 2028.
• Project started in August 2022 and concluded in March 2024, showing timely completion.

Negative

• No direct mention of immediate financial benefits or revenue impact.
• Potentially high investment with $26 billion planned for Energize365, could impact short-term financials.

Work will help prevent or minimize the impact of outages for 1,500 FirstEnergy customers

AKRON, Ohio, May 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- American Transmission Systems, Inc. (ATSI), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has installed approximately 250 new insulators along a 22-mile section of a transmission line that runs through Mahoning and Columbiana counties in northeast Ohio. The new equipment will help ensure the electric grid remains reliable and resilient for approximately 1,500 Ohio Edison customers in the Mahoning Valley.

New horizontal post insulators were installed on the 69-kilovolt transmission line, which runs southwest from a substation in Boardman Township to a substation in Salem. Insulators separate high-voltage transmission lines from their grounded support towers and help maintain the safe and consistent delivery of power. The new insulators attach directly to the poles and eliminate the need for crossarms, which were removed.

Work to replace the insulators began in August 2022 and was completed in March. Several poles were also replaced as part of the $5 million project.

Carl Bridenbaugh, FirstEnergy's Vice President of Transmission: "This new, upgraded equipment will help prevent potential outages and ensure that our transmission system continues to serve customers safely and reliably in the future."

The project is part of Energize365, a multi-year grid evolution program focused on transmission and distribution investments that will deliver the power FirstEnergy's customers depend on today while also meeting the challenges of tomorrow. With planned investments of $26 billion between 2024 and 2028, the program will create a smarter, more secure grid that will meet and exceed reliability targets and accommodate electric vehicles, the electrification of homes and businesses and clean energy sources.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on X, formerly known as Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp.

 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What recent upgrades did FirstEnergy complete in Mahoning Valley?

FirstEnergy completed a $5 million upgrade, installing approximately 250 new horizontal post insulators along a 22-mile transmission line in Mahoning Valley.

How will FirstEnergy's upgrade impact Ohio Edison customers in Mahoning Valley?

The upgrade aims to enhance grid reliability and prevent outages for approximately 1,500 Ohio Edison customers in Mahoning Valley.

When did FirstEnergy complete the recent grid enhancements in Mahoning Valley?

The grid enhancements were completed in March 2024, with work starting in August 2022.

What is FirstEnergy's Energize365 program?

Energize365 is a multi-year grid evolution program with planned investments of $26 billion from 2024 to 2028 to enhance grid reliability and support future energy needs.

What are the key features of the recent transmission line upgrade by FirstEnergy?

The upgrade involved installing 250 new horizontal post insulators and replacing several poles along a 22-mile section of the transmission line.