Penelec Completes Inspections and Maintenance to Enhance Electric Service Reliability Through Winter Season

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania subsidiary, Penelec, is enhancing electric service reliability ahead of winter by completing crucial equipment inspections and maintenance. This proactive approach includes using thermovision cameras for inspecting substations, winterizing control buildings, and conducting helicopter inspections on 2,500 miles of transmission lines. Maintenance also involves trimming 4,200 miles of trees to minimize outages and ensuring utility vehicles are equipped for harsh conditions. Penelec serves about 585,000 customers across northern and central Pennsylvania, emphasizing safety and reliability during cold months.

Positive

• Proactive winter preparations to ensure reliable power delivery.
• Use of advanced thermovision technology for equipment inspections.
• Comprehensive tree trimming strategy to prevent outages.
• Winterization of control buildings to protect remote-controlled equipment.
• Successful completion of helicopter inspections over 2,500 miles of transmission lines.

Negative

• None.

ERIE, Pa., Nov. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With winter weather on the horizon, Penelec, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is completing equipment inspections and maintenance to help keep power flowing to customers when they need it most to stay safe and comfortable. 

"Our winter preparations focus on a wide range of activities with one common goal: ready our electric distribution and transmission systems to safely deliver electricity to our customers throughout the cold months ahead," said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania Operations. "By taking proactive steps now to safeguard our power infrastructure and prepare our utility vehicles, we will be better positioned to respond to the challenges presented by winter weather." 

Substation electricians inspect critical components using "thermovision" cameras, which capture infrared images of equipment to detect potential problems that are not visible during regular visual inspections. The infrared images show heat on a color scale, with brighter colors or "hot spots" indicating loose connections, corrosion or other problems that require repairs. Utility workers can then make proactive repairs on substation equipment to help prevent power outages as customers crank up their heaters to combat the cold.

Some larger substations have buildings that house remote-controlled equipment that must be in a climate-controlled environment to function properly. Crews winterize those control buildings and ensure their heating systems are ready for the season.

Helicopter inspections are being completed on approximately 2,500 miles of transmission lines located in the Penelec footprint. The inspections are designed to look for damaged wire, broken cross arms and other hardware problems invisible from the ground. Any potential reliability issues identified during the inspection may then be addressed.

Tree trimming throughout the year also helps meet the rigors of winter operations by maintaining proper clearances around electrical systems and helping to protect against tree-related outages caused by heavy, wet snow, high winds and ice. Penelec tree contractors have trimmed about 3,500 miles of electric lines this year and are on track to complete about 4,200 total miles of trimming by the end of 2021.

Additionally, bucket trucks and other vehicles are inspected to ensure they are safe and able to function in freezing temperatures. Special emphasis is placed on the condition of tires and air brakes, which can freeze up if moisture is present. Snow removal equipment is also checked to ensure that crews are able to access to substations and that work areas and sidewalks at company facilities are clear and safe.

Earlier this year, Penelec conducted its annual tabletop storm drill as another way to help ensure reliable electric service for customers. The drill is designed to prepare employees assigned to storm restoration duties and review restoration processes and storm-management tools critical to safely and quickly getting the lights back after damage caused by severe weather.

Penelec serves approximately 585,000 customers within 17,600 square miles of northern and central Pennsylvania. Follow Penelec on Twitter @Penelec and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PenelecElectric.

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 24,500 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 workers conducting inspections to enhance service reliability for Penelec customers are available for download on Flickr. A video of utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection and explaining the work can be found on the company's YouTube channel.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is FirstEnergy's preparation for winter in Pennsylvania for 2021?

FirstEnergy's Penelec is conducting equipment inspections and maintenance to ensure reliable electric service during the winter months.

How many customers does Penelec serve in Pennsylvania?

Penelec serves approximately 585,000 customers across 17,600 square miles of northern and central Pennsylvania.

What technology is used for inspecting substations?

Penelec utilizes thermovision cameras to inspect critical components in substations, detecting issues not visible to the naked eye.

How many miles of tree trimming has Penelec completed this year?

Penelec contractors have trimmed about 3,500 miles of electric lines and are on track to complete a total of 4,200 miles by the end of 2021.

What measures are taken to ensure utility vehicles are ready for winter?

Utility vehicles undergo thorough inspections focusing on safety features like tires and air brakes to ensure they function in freezing temperatures.