Work Underway to Upgrade West Penn Power's Electrical System in Westmoreland County
- Investment of $147 million to improve electric distribution system
- Upgrades to reduce power outages for 4,800 customers
- Installation of protective devices to prevent service interruptions
- Potential negative impact of the projects on the environment and local wildlife
Projects designed to enhance electric service reliability for nearly 5,000 customers
"Our crews are working on three projects designed to help reduce both the number and duration of power outages for a combined 4,800 customers," said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's
The upgrades are part of West Penn Power's Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan II, a
West Penn Power line crews are working at 70 locations along a 31-mile power line that serves nearly 1,800 customers in
The project also includes installing 55 new fuses on the line. Fuses are protective devices that open automatically when they detect a system irregularity, such as a tree branch contacting the wire. Fuses safeguard electrical equipment from damage while limiting the scope of outages to smaller sections of a power line. This results in fewer customers impacted by outages caused by trees, vehicle accidents or equipment issues. The work is expected to be completed by the end of summer.
Further north in the county, West Penn Power crews are installing 53 new lightning-protection devices and 47 fuses on a distribution line that serves more than 1,300 customers in
The third project targets the replacement of 19 poles that have stood for decades along a 65-mile line in
West Penn Power serves approximately 737,000 customers in 24 counties within central and southwestern
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
Editor's Note: A photo of West Penn Power crews installing new equipment to upgrade the electric distribution system in
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
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