Work to enhance smart grid across
Pennsylvania will continue through
2029
GREENSBURG, Pa., Dec. 19,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Pennsylvania
(FE PA), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy
Corp. (NYSE: FE) doing business as Met-Ed, Penn Power, Penelec and
West Penn Power, has received approval from the Pennsylvania Public
Utility Commission (PaPUC) to implement phase three of its
Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plans (LTIIP III) to help
ensure continued electric service reliability for more than two
million Pennsylvania
customers.
The plans entail an additional $1.42
billion in capital investment over the next five years
across FE PA's service areas with
projects designed to reduce the frequency of service interruptions
for customers and shorten their duration when they occur. LTIIP III
builds on more than $1 billion in
investments made during the first two rounds of LTIIP that spanned
2016-2024. Since 2019, the frequency of interruptions a customer
experiences over a year has dropped by 14% in areas where LTIIP
work has been completed.
John Hawkins, FirstEnergy's
President of Pennsylvania:
"Over the past nine years, our enhancements to the power grid and
proactive tree trimming along rights-of-way have yielded positive
results. Our tailored improvement plans for each service area align
seamlessly with our annual upgrades to the distribution network,
helping us deliver the safe and reliable service our customers want
and deserve. LTIIP III will further elevate these efforts by
rebuilding overhead power lines and integrating more automated
technology into our power lines and substations."
View photos of some previous LTIIP projects on
Flickr.
LTIIP III will focus on improving customer service reliability
through grid modernization and system resiliency.
Grid modernization projects include:
- Installing protective devices such as automated reclosers and
fuses to power lines and building tie lines between power line
sections to isolate damage and quickly restore electric service to
customers from unaffected parts of the system.
- Converting lower-voltage power lines to standard voltages to
better regulate voltage and provide operational flexibility to
reduce the duration of outages.
- Updating underground networks with new conduits, cable,
transformers, vaults, manholes and switches.
- Replacing aging substation equipment with modern breakers and
electronic relays that offer improved monitoring and operational
capabilities.
System resiliency focuses on strengthening the grid with
projects such as:
- Replacing aging poles and overhead wire.
- Replacing underground cable nearing the end of its useful
life.
- Selectively placing distribution equipment underground where
feasible to enhance reliability.
- Building new power lines to provide more sources to supply
electricity to customers, enhancing operational flexibility.
These targeted distribution projects complement each utility's
annual tree trimming and vegetation management efforts, which work
in tandem to help minimize service interruptions.
Expected 2025-2029 LTIIP III investments for each service area
are:
- Penelec – $538 million
- Met-Ed - $382 million
- West Penn Power – $368
million
- Penn Power - $133 million
Customers will see no bill impact from LTIIP III in 2025 because
first-year program costs are included in FE
PA's distribution rate review approved in November by the
PUC. LTIIP was authorized by Pennsylvania Act 11, which was
approved in 2012 and established a process to encourage electric,
natural gas, water and sewer utilities in Pennsylvania to accelerate investments in
aging infrastructure and create economic benefits.
FE PA anticipates filing
additional LTIIPs in future years and is committed to a sound,
cost-effective approach that will result in consistent reliability
performance.
LTIIP III is part of Energize365, a multi-year grid
evolution program focused on transmission and distribution
investments that will deliver the power FirstEnergy's customers
depend on today while also meeting the challenges of tomorrow. With
planned investments of $26 billion
between 2024 and 2028, the program will create a smarter, more
secure and resilient grid that will meet and exceed reliability
targets and accommodate electric vehicles, the electrification of
homes and businesses and clean energy sources.
Met-Ed serves approximately 592,000 customers within 3,300
square miles of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Follow Met-Ed on X @Met Ed and
on Facebook at facebook.com/MetEdElectric.
Penelec serves approximately 597,000 customers within 17,600
square miles of northern and central Pennsylvania and western New York. Follow Penelec on X @Penelec and on
Facebook at facebook.com/PenelecElectric.
Penn Power serves approximately 173,000 customers in all or
parts of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania. Follow Penn Power on X
@Penn_Power, on Facebook at facebook.com/PennPower, and online at
pennpower.com.
West Penn Power serves approximately 746,000 customers in 24
counties within central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Follow West Penn on X
@W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at facebook.com/WestPennPower.
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 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 firstenergycorp.com and on X
@FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
