Fuse Installations Underway at West Penn Power to Enhance Service Reliability

Rhea-AI Summary

West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), will implement a $147 million Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP II) over the next five years to enhance service reliability for its 725,000 customers. This plan includes the installation of 6,000 to 7,500 fuses, costing around $21 million, intended to reduce outage impacts caused by severe weather and equipment failures. The initiative should improve equipment protection and decrease the average number of customers affected by outages by over 10% compared to previous installations.

Positive

• Investment of $147 million under Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan to enhance service reliability.
• Expected installation of 6,000 to 7,500 fuses to significantly reduce customer outage impacts and improve service response.

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• None.

GREENSBURG, Pa., Sept. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), plans to install thousands of new fuses on its distribution lines during the next five years to reduce the number of customers affected by service interruptions caused by severe weather, tree contacts, equipment issues and other causes.

The work is part of West Penn Power's Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP II), a $147 million initiative to accelerate capital investments through 2024 to help ensure continued electric service reliability for the company's 725,000 customers. Approximately $21 million of the initiative is expected to be spent on the fuse work.

In 2020, West Penn Power line workers and contractors expect to install between 6,000 and 7,500 new fuses on distribution poles and wires throughout its service area. Fuses are protective devices made of polymer that automatically open when a system irregularity is detected, protecting electrical equipment while limiting the scope of an outage to a smaller section of the distribution line. Use of fuses means fewer customers are impacted by outages caused by trees, vehicle accidents or equipment issues.  

"Our eventual goal is to install enough new fuses to separate distribution lines into smaller blocks of 30 to 35 customers," said John Rea, West Penn Power regional president. "Some longer circuits may be equipped with several hundred fuses, limiting the number of customers affected by an outage."

It typically takes a two-person crew about an hour to install a new fuse. Using personal protective equipment and rubber goods to cover energized facilities, crews can often safely accomplish the work without having to schedule a planned outage that interrupts service to customers.

In 2020, fuse installations will occur in numerous locations across West Penn Power's service area, including work on:

• 23 circuits in Allegheny County
• 10 circuits in Armstrong County
• 21 circuits in Butler County
• 29 circuits in Centre County
• 16 circuits in Elk County
• 30 circuits in Fayette County
• 22 circuits in Franklin County
• 11 circuits in Greene County
• 30 circuits in Washington County
• 64 circuits in Westmoreland County

The LTIIP II fuse installation projects are a continuation of similar work completed during the company's initial 2016-2020 LTIIP.  As a result of fuse installation projects implemented during that time, the average number of West Penn Power customers impacted per power outage decreased by more than 10 percent.

West Penn Power serves approximately 725,000 customers within 10,400 square miles of central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Follow West Penn Power on Twitter @W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WestPennPower.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to 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 24,500 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note: Photos of West Penn Power crews installing the fuses are available for download on Flickr

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is the new initiative launched by FirstEnergy's West Penn Power?

West Penn Power is implementing a $147 million Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan to enhance service reliability.

How much is FirstEnergy investing in fuse installations for West Penn Power?

FirstEnergy is investing approximately $21 million specifically for fuse installations as part of the LTIIP II.

How will the fuse installations affect customers of West Penn Power?

The fuse installations aim to reduce the average number of customers affected by outages by more than 10%.

How many fuses does West Penn Power plan to install by the end of 2020?

West Penn Power plans to install between 6,000 and 7,500 new fuses across its service area in 2020.

What is the goal of the fuse installation project at West Penn Power?

The goal is to separate distribution lines into smaller blocks of 30 to 35 customers to limit outage impacts.