Penelec Rejuvenates Underground Cable to Help Enhance Service Reliability

Rhea-AI Summary

Penelec, a utility of FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE), has initiated a project to inject silicone-based fluid into 1.5 miles of aging underground electrical cable in Erie County. This innovative method aims to extend the cable's lifespan by 20 to 30 years, significantly reducing replacement costs by approximately 50% while minimizing disruption to neighborhoods. The $80,000 project is part of Penelec's $200 million initiative to enhance electric service reliability for 585,000 customers across northern and central Pennsylvania. This is the first use of fluid injections in cable rehabilitation for Penelec, marking a potential shift in their maintenance strategy.

Positive

• The fluid injection method costs about 50% less than complete cable replacement.
• The project is expected to extend cable life by 20 to 30 years.
• Part of a $200 million investment to improve infrastructure and reliability.

Negative

• None.

ERIE, Pa., July 8, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Penelec, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utility, recently injected sections of an aging underground distribution line in Erie County with a silicone-based fluid that should prolong its useful life by decades. This method allows the cable to support continued reliable electric service for a fraction of what it would have cost to replace it and eliminates the need to dig trenches through landscaped yards and driveways for cable replacement.

Over time, water and corrosive soil materials can penetrate underground wire through tiny cracks and fissures, causing power outages. Rather than disturbing dirt to replace nearly 1.5 miles of aging underground cable along Fieldcrest Drive and Townsend Drive in Fairview Township, Penelec hired an electrical contractor that specializes in restoring buried cable without excavation.

This is the first time Penelec has used fluid injections to rehabilitate underground electric cable. The company may consider the process for more widespread application in coming years. The approximately $80,000 project is part of the company's ongoing efforts to strengthen the durability of its electric system and enhance service reliability for its customers.

"Underground electrical equipment is in many ways better protected from the elements than overhead wires, but when an outage occurs it often takes longer for our crews to pinpoint where the underground problem is and make repairs," said Nick Austin, regional president of Penelec. "The underground cable rejuvenation process only costs about half as much as replacing the cable – plus, it's far less time consuming and disruptive for neighborhoods."

Accessing de-energized wires through underground vaults, the contractor forced pressurized silicone-based fluid into the cable, filling the cracks and spaces in the worn insulation encasing the wire with new material. The fluid provides a shot in the arm, strengthening the existing cable and helping it perform well for another 20 to 30 years.   

Penelec plans to replace another 30,000 feet of aging underground cable in 2020. Much of that cable has been spliced and repaired too many times for those line sections to be good candidates for fluid injection.

The work is part of Penelec's Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plans (LTIIP II), a $200 million initiative to accelerate capital investments over five years to help ensure continued 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 www.facebook.com/PenelecElectric.  

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. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note:  Photos of underground cable rejuvenation work in the Penelec service area are available for download on Flickr.                                   

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/penelec-rejuvenates-underground-cable-to-help-enhance-service-reliability-301090229.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is the recent project Penelec announced on July 8, 2020?

Penelec announced a project to inject silicone-based fluid into aging underground cables to enhance their lifespan.

How much is Penelec investing in the underground cable rejuvenation project?

The underground cable rejuvenation project costs approximately $80,000.

What will the silicone fluid injection do for Penelec's underground cables?

The silicone fluid injection is expected to extend the life of the cables by 20 to 30 years.

How does the cost of fluid injection compare to cable replacement?

The fluid injection method costs about 50% less than replacing the cable.

Is this the first time Penelec has used fluid injections for cable rehabilitation?

Yes, this is the first use of fluid injections for rehabilitating underground electric cable by Penelec.