FirstEnergy Installs New High-Voltage Wires in Northwest Ohio to Support Grid Reliability

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is enhancing electricity reliability in northwest Ohio with a $20 million upgrade to its transmission lines in Ottawa County. This project involves helicopter crews installing larger wires on a 138-kilovolt line, which extends nearly eight miles. The upgrade aims to support increased electricity demand, especially during service interruptions. ATSI, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, is also replacing six transmission structures and modifying 42 more to accommodate the new wiring. The initiative is part of the multi-year Energizing the Future program, which aims to enhance the entire transmission system with an investment exceeding $10 billion.

Positive

• The $20 million project upgrades transmission lines to enhance reliability and efficiency.
• Using helicopter crews for installation improves efficiency compared to ground crews.
• The upgrade supports increased electricity demand and prepares for service interruptions.
• Part of the Energizing the Future initiative, which has seen over $10 billion in investments since 2014.

Negative

• None.

Larger wires in Ottawa County will be able to handle increased electricity demand

AKRON, Ohio, March 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- American Transmission Systems, Inc. (ATSI), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is using helicopter crews to upgrade a high-voltage transmission line in Ottawa County, stringing new, larger wires that can handle additional demand if other lines in the area are out of service.

The 138-kilovolt transmission line runs nearly eight miles southwest from the Lakeview Substation in Port Clinton to the Ottawa Substation in Salem Township. In addition to stringing the new wires, ATSI will replace six existing transmission structures along the route with new steel monopoles that can better support the larger wires. ATSI also will make modifications to another 42 transmission structures, installing new components and insulators to support the wires. Insulators separate high-voltage transmission lines from their grounded support towers and help maintain safe, consistent delivery of power while preventing the current from traveling through the structures.

Using helicopter crews to perform the work is faster and more efficient than deploying ground crews, which would require the creation of access roads for large trucks and equipment. ATSI began construction along the line in February and expects to complete the work in May.

The transmission line serves Ottawa, Erie and Lorain counties. With the new wires, the line will be able to carry increased current in the event of unplanned service interruptions on other lines in the area. When completed, the $20 million project will enhance the reliability, resiliency, efficiency and operational flexibility of the transmission system in the area. The project was identified in conjunction with PJM, the electric grid operator for Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison's service area, as part of its reliability planning analysis.

"This line upgrade will reinforce our transmission system and will help provide us with the flexibility we need to continue delivering reliable power to customers in northwest Ohio," said Carl Bridenbaugh, FirstEnergy's vice president of Transmission.

FirstEnergy also continues to move forward with Energizing the Future, a multi-year initiative designed to upgrade FirstEnergy's transmission system with advanced equipment and technologies that will reinforce the power grid and help reduce the frequency and duration of customer outages. Since 2014, FirstEnergy has upgraded or replaced existing power lines, incorporated smart technology into the grid and upgraded dozens of substations with new equipment and enhanced security features. Through 2022, FirstEnergy has invested more than $10 billion in the Energizing the Future initiative.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 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 Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is the recent project announced by FirstEnergy Corp. (FE) in Ottawa County?

FirstEnergy Corp. is upgrading its transmission lines in Ottawa County with a $20 million project to enhance electricity reliability and efficiency.

How much is FirstEnergy investing in the transmission line upgrade in Ohio?

FirstEnergy is investing $20 million in the transmission line upgrade in Ottawa County.

What are the expected benefits of the transmission line upgrade by FE?

The upgrade will enhance reliability, support increased electricity demand, and prepare for service interruptions.

When is the transmission line upgrade project by FirstEnergy expected to be completed?

The transmission line upgrade is expected to be completed by May.

What is the significance of the <i>Energizing the Future</i> initiative for FirstEnergy (FE)?

The Energizing the Future initiative involves upgrading FirstEnergy's transmission system with investments exceeding $10 billion since 2014.