Western Maryland Electric Grid Stronger and More Resilient Following Smart Enhancements

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary Potomac Edison completes service reliability projects to enhance electric service for nearly 5,000 customers in Maryland. Projects include automatic power line switching to prevent outages and installation of reclosing devices for faster service restoration.

Insights

Energy Sector Analyst

The completion of service reliability projects by Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary, signifies a strategic investment in infrastructure resilience that can have a substantial impact on operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. By implementing smart grid technologies, such as automated reclosing devices, the company is poised to minimize service disruptions, which can lead to improved regulatory relationships and potentially enhance the company's public image.

From a financial perspective, the reduction in power outages can translate into cost savings on emergency repairs and customer service management. Over time, these savings can contribute to the company's operating margin. Moreover, the investment in grid technology may qualify for state or federal infrastructure incentives, further affecting the company's financials.

It is also worth noting that these enhancements could mitigate the risk of revenue loss from customer credits due to prolonged outages, a common regulatory requirement. In the long term, the reliability of service can increase customer retention and attract new customers in a competitive market, thereby potentially increasing market share and revenue.

Risk Management Expert

Enhancing service reliability through the recent infrastructure projects by Potomac Edison represents a proactive approach to risk management. By reducing the frequency and duration of power outages, the company is effectively lowering operational risks associated with weather-related disruptions and equipment failures.

These improvements in infrastructure resilience also serve as a hedge against reputational risk. In the utility industry, customer perceptions are heavily influenced by the consistency and reliability of service. By limiting the scope of outages, Potomac Edison is likely to experience fewer customer complaints and negative press, which can be detrimental to a utility company's reputation.

Furthermore, the installation of automated reclosers is a strategic move to enhance system monitoring and rapid response capabilities. This technology can provide valuable data for predictive analytics, allowing the company to anticipate and mitigate potential issues before they escalate, thereby reducing the financial impact of unforeseen infrastructure failures.

Technology Implementation Specialist

The integration of smart grid technology, including automated reclosers, by Potomac Edison reflects an industry-wide trend towards modernizing electrical grids. These technologies are critical for enhancing the reliability and efficiency of power distribution.

Automated reclosers function similarly to circuit breakers but with the added ability to automatically re-energize a line, which minimizes downtime and customer impact. This technology also provides utility personnel with precise fault location information, which can expedite repair times and reduce labor costs associated with manual troubleshooting.

From a technological standpoint, the deployment of such devices is a step towards a more intelligent and self-healing grid, which is essential for accommodating future energy demands and the integration of renewable energy sources. While the upfront costs of these technologies can be significant, the long-term operational savings and improved service quality typically justify the investment.

Potomac Edison work will help prevent or minimize outages for thousands of customers

WILLIAMSPORT, Md., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Potomac Edison has completed service reliability projects that will enhance electric service and minimize the impact of power outages for nearly 5,000 customers in Allegany, Frederick and Garrett counties.

Don McGettigan, Acting President of FirstEnergy's Maryland Operations: "Continually investing in upgrades to our system helps us restore service to our customers faster following severe weather and reduce the number of momentary and sustained power outages our customers experience."

The two projects allow Potomac Edison personnel to keep customers' lights on by automatically switching them to an adjacent power line if wires or equipment on their regular line are damaged or need to be taken out of service. By connecting customers to a second source of power along the north side of Interstate 68 between Grantsville and Frostburg in Garrett and Allegany counties, and from West Patrick Street North to Yellow Springs Pike in Frederick county, thousands of customers in the West Frederick, Frostburg and Finzel areas will experience fewer and shorter service disruptions.

Hundreds of homes and businesses in the area also will benefit from the installation of 14 new automated reclosing devices in substations and along neighborhood power lines that will help limit the frequency, duration and scope of service interruptions. Watch a video that explains how smart grid technology works, including reclosers.

These electrical devices:

• Work like a circuit breaker in a home that shuts off power when trouble occurs, with the added benefit of automatically reenergizing a substation or power line within seconds for certain types of outages to keep power safely flowing to customers.
• Are safer and more efficient because they often allow utility personnel to automatically restore service to customers instead of sending a crew to investigate.
• Isolate the outage to that area and limit the total number of affected customers if the device senses a more serious issue, like a fallen tree on electrical equipment.
• Quickly pinpoint the location of the fault and help utility personnel better understand the cause of the outage to help speed restoration.

In addition to these system enhancements, Potomac Edison proactively replaced about 50 miles of aging underground cable with a more reliable type of cable designed to withstand elements like dirt, rocks, lightning and water.

Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in all or parts of Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties in Maryland and 151,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on X, formerly known as Twitter @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

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 more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What company completed service reliability projects to enhance electric service in Maryland?

FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary Potomac Edison completed the service reliability projects.

How many customers will benefit from the projects completed by Potomac Edison?

Nearly 5,000 customers in Allegany, Frederick, and Garrett counties will benefit.

What are the benefits of the automatic power line switching by Potomac Edison?

The automatic power line switching helps keep customers' lights on by connecting them to a second power source, reducing service disruptions.

What is the purpose of the installation of 14 new automated reclosing devices by Potomac Edison?

The installation of reclosing devices helps limit the frequency, duration, and scope of service interruptions by automatically restoring service.

How do the reclosing devices installed by Potomac Edison work?

The reclosing devices work like a circuit breaker, shutting off power when needed and automatically reenergizing the power line within seconds for certain types of outages.