Inspection and Maintenance Work Nears Completion in Met-Ed's Service Area to Enhance Service Reliability for Customers Through Summer

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), operating as Met-Ed, is nearing completion of critical inspections and maintenance work to boost service reliability for around 592,000 customers in eastern Pennsylvania. With the summer season expected to bring high electric usage and severe weather, the company has conducted thermovision inspections using infrared cameras to detect potential equipment issues like loose connections and corrosion. Helicopter patrols have also inspected 970 miles of power lines, identifying and addressing hardware problems. Additionally, tree trimming has been carried out along 950 miles of power lines, with 2,160 more miles scheduled by year-end. Met-Ed also conducted storm-readiness exercises to enhance response to power outages. The company provides tips to manage energy costs during high-demand periods, including using programmable thermostats and sealing leaks. Customers can access payment assistance programs if needed.

Positive

• Completion of inspections and maintenance work to enhance service reliability.
• Use of thermovision cameras to detect equipment issues early.
• Helicopter patrols inspecting 970 miles of power lines.
• Tree trimming along 950 miles of power lines, with another 2,160 miles planned.
• Conducting storm-readiness exercises.

Negative

• Potential for increased energy costs during high-demand summer months.

Company offers tips for customers to manage rising temperatures and energy costs

READING, Pa., June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- With the hot, humid summer months expected to produce higher electric usage and potentially severe weather, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) doing business in eastern Pennsylvania as Met-Ed, is completing inspections and conducting proactive equipment maintenance across its service area to help enhance service reliability for customers.

John Hawkins, FirstEnergy's President, Pennsylvania: "We proactively inspect and maintain our equipment to help ensure our system is prepared for increased electrical demand when temperatures climb. These important measures will also help to minimize the length and impact of service interruptions should summer storms cause power outages."

Met-Ed crews are wrapping up inspections of its local energy delivery system to ensure electrical equipment is ready to perform reliably with elevated summer electrical demand, typically due to air conditioning usage.

Substation electricians use thermovision cameras during summer-readiness inspections to capture infrared images, helping to detect potential problems within substations and on power lines that cannot be observed during regular visual inspections. These images can identify equipment issues such as loose connections, corrosion and load imbalances, and utility workers are able to make repairs to prevent potential power outages in the future.

Watch a video on the company's YouTube channel of utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection.

In addition, helicopter patrols have completed inspections of nearly 970 miles of power lines owned by Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission, LLC (MAIT), a FirstEnergy Corp. transmission subsidiary, located in the Met-Ed service area. The inspections identify damaged wire, broken cross arms and other hardware problems not visible from the ground. Any potential reliability issues identified during the inspections will be addressed.

Since the beginning of the year, tree contractors have trimmed along about 950 miles of power lines as part of FirstEnergy's vegetation management program in the Met-Ed area. Work remains on schedule to complete an additional 2,160 miles by the end of the year. Maintaining proper clearances around electrical equipment is critical to providing safe, reliable electric service and can help reduce the frequency and duration of tree-related power outages, especially those associated with severe weather.

Trees are being trimmed in these counties and communities:

• Adams – Berwick Township, Franklin Township, Hamilton Township, Latimore Township, Reading Township, Straban Township, Tyrone Township
• Berks – Bally, Bechtelsville, Cumru Township, Douglass Township, Exeter, Hamburg, Hereford Township, Leesport, Lenhartsville, Longswamp Township, Lynnville, Marion Township, Maxatawny Township, Muhlenberg Township, New Smithville, New Tripoli, Pike Township, Reading, Shillington, Temple, Topton, Tulpehocken Township, Washington Township
• Bucks – Durham, Nockamixon Township
• Chester – Warwick Township
• Dauphin – East Hanover
• Lebanon – North Cornwall Township, North Londonderry Township, South Lebanon Township, South Londonderry Township, West Cornwall Township
• Lehigh – Weisenberg Township
• Monroe – Hamilton Township, New Smithfield Township, Ross Township, Smithfield Township, Stroud Township
• Montgomery – New Hanover Township, Upper Frederick Township, Upper Hanover Township
• Northampton – Bangor, Bath, East Allen Township, East Bangor, Easton, Forks Township, Lehigh Township, Palmer Township, Washington Township, Williams Township
• Pike – Delaware Township, Dingman Township, Lehman Township
• York – Codorus Township, Dallastown, Dover, Dover Township, Fawn Township, Glen Rock, Hellam Township, Hopewell Township, Lower Windsor Township, Manchester Township, New Freedom, Red Lion, Shrewsbury Township, Springettsbury Township, Springfield Township, Windsor Township, York, York Township

In addition to equipment inspections and maintenance, Met-Ed recently conducted storm-readiness exercises and drills to test the restoration process used to repair storm-related power outages. Storm drills are becoming more common in the utility industry in the wake of severe weather over the last several years.

With the summer storm season also comes higher-than-usual temperatures and rising energy costs. Customers can take steps to beat the heat while also managing their electricity bill this summer. The following tips can help customers use electricity wisely during this period of high demand:

• Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow.
• Use fans – moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.
• During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatures.
• Use a programmable or smart thermostat to keep temperatures higher when no one is home and to reduce the temperature before arrival back home.
• Seal any leaks with caulk or weather stripping to prevent hot air from sneaking into your home.
• Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.
• Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air conditioner must do.
• Payment arrangements and assistance programs are available for customers who need help with their electric bills. For more information, visit firstenergycorp.com/billassist.

Met-Ed serves approximately 592,000 customers within 3,300 square miles of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Follow Met-Ed on X, formerly known as Twitter, @Met Ed and on Facebook at facebook.com/MetEdElectric.

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. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note: Photos of workers conducting thermovision inspections to enhance service reliability for FirstEnergy customers are available for download on Flickr.

 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What measures is FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA) taking to ensure service reliability during the summer?

FE PA is conducting inspections and proactive maintenance, including thermovision inspections and helicopter patrols, to detect and address potential issues. Tree trimming along power lines is also being carried out.

How is Met-Ed preparing for increased electrical demand in summer 2024?

Met-Ed is completing equipment inspections and maintenance, using thermovision cameras and helicopter patrols, and conducting tree trimming to minimize power outages and enhance service reliability.

What are the benefits of thermovision inspections conducted by Met-Ed?

Thermovision inspections help identify issues such as loose connections and corrosion that are not visible during regular inspections, allowing for early repairs and preventing future power outages.

How many customers does Met-Ed serve in eastern Pennsylvania?

Met-Ed serves approximately 592,000 customers within 3,300 square miles of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania.

What are some energy-saving tips provided by Met-Ed for summer 2024?

Met-Ed suggests setting thermostats higher, using fans, closing drapes on sunny windows, using programmable thermostats, sealing leaks, checking filters, and avoiding heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours.