Penelec Completing Upgrades in Northern Clarion County

Rhea-AI Summary

Penelec, a FirstEnergy Corp. electric utility, is enhancing service reliability for approximately 2,800 customers in northern Clarion County, Pennsylvania. The multimillion-dollar upgrades include replacing 66 utility poles, 155 crossarms, and 550 insulators, along with modernizing aging copper wire to aluminum. These improvements aim to reduce electric service interruptions, particularly during severe weather. The project, part of a $200 million Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan, began in late 2021 and is set for completion in March 2022.

Positive

• Enhances reliability for 2,800 customers in northern Clarion County.
• Replacing 66 utility poles, 155 crossarms, and 550 insulators improves infrastructure.
• New aluminum wire allows for increased electricity transport and voltage stability.
• Project part of a $200 million Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan.

Negative

• None.

Upgrades to benefit nearly 3,000 customers in Shippenville and Knox areas

ERIE, Pa., March 22, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Penelec, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) electric utility, is completing work in Clarion County designed to enhance electric service reliability for about 2,800 customers in parts of Shippenville, Marianne Estates, Knox, Lucinda and Leeper.

"The distribution system work we've undertaken across northern Clarion County will help reduce the frequency and duration of electric service interruptions experienced by our customers, particularly during severe weather and other events like vehicle accidents," said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania operations. "These projects are designed to enhance electric service reliability for customers by proactively replacing equipment with new infrastructure that will accommodate both current needs and future load growth."

The work includes replacing 66 utility poles, 155 crossarms and 550 insulators, as well as replacing aging copper wire with modern aluminum wire along a 6-mile stretch of power line from the intersection of Bus Mong Road and State Route 322 north of Knox to the intersection of State Routes 322 and 66 east of Shippenville. The new aluminum wire can transport more electricity and will help improve voltage in the Shippenville and Marianne Estates communities and support future growth in the area.

Additionally, manually operated switches on the line were replaced with remote-control devices, allowing system operators to quickly isolate damage and transfer customers to a backup power source to reduce the number of customers impacted by service interruptions and shorten their duration.

Penelec is also upgrading equipment on a 17-mile power line connecting an electrical substation south of Shippenville to a substation near Crown, including replacing 54 poles, 140 crossarms and 470 insulators. The upgrades will help enhance the reliability of electric service for Penelec customers as well as customers of the United Electric Cooperative at Leeper and the Central Electric Cooperative at Lucinda, whose systems are fed by the line.  

The multimillion-dollar reliability-improvement work started in late 2021 and is expected to conclude in March. The work is part of Penelec's Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP II), a five-year, $200 million initiative to enhance electric service reliability for the company's 585,000 customers.

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 https://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 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note: Photos of the distribution upgrade work in Penelec's northern Clarion County service area are available for download on Flickr.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What upgrades is Penelec completing in northern Clarion County?

Penelec is completing multimillion-dollar upgrades that include replacing utility poles, crossarms, and insulators to enhance electric service reliability.

How many customers will benefit from the Penelec upgrades?

Approximately 2,800 customers in parts of Shippenville, Knox, and surrounding areas will benefit from the upgrades.

When did the Penelec upgrades start and when will they be completed?

The upgrades began in late 2021 and are expected to conclude in March 2022.

What is the purpose of replacing copper wire with aluminum wire in Penelec's upgrades?

Replacing copper wire with aluminum wire allows for greater electricity transport and improved voltage in the affected communities.

Is the Penelec upgrade project part of a larger initiative?

Yes, the upgrades are part of Penelec's $200 million Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan.