Big Reliability Boost Coming to Adams County

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) has announced a major reliability enhancement project in Adams County, Pennsylvania, through its subsidiary Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT). The East Germantown-Germantown Reliability Project includes construction of a new substation and a 115-kilovolt transmission line, set to be completed by March 2026.

The project will serve 2,300 residents and businesses, including critical facilities like Hanover Hospital and WellSpan Health. It's part of FirstEnergy's broader $28 billion Energize365 investment program (2025-2029) and will provide an additional power source, improve operational flexibility, and enable faster service restoration during outages.

Positive

• Project will enhance service reliability for 2,300 customers including critical facilities
• Part of a larger $28 billion grid modernization investment program (2025-2029)
• Additional power source will improve operational flexibility and reduce outage duration
• Infrastructure designed to support future community growth

Negative

• Environmental impact and vegetation restoration work required through 2026
• Construction disruption likely during implementation period

Insights

Utilities Infrastructure Analyst

FirstEnergy's Adams County grid upgrade strengthens reliability while advancing its $28B infrastructure modernization strategy.

FirstEnergy's East Germantown-Germantown Reliability Project represents a strategic infrastructure investment that addresses both immediate reliability concerns and positions the company for future growth. The project will deliver enhanced service to 2,300 customers including critical facilities like Hanover Hospital and WellSpan Health.

The technical approach is particularly noteworthy: by constructing a second power source and implementing advanced switching capabilities, FirstEnergy is creating redundancy and operational flexibility in their distribution network. This architecture significantly improves resiliency against outages while reducing restoration times—a critical performance metric for utilities that directly impacts customer satisfaction and regulatory compliance.

What's most significant is that this project is part of FirstEnergy's broader $28 billion Energize365 investment program (2025-2029), which signals the company's substantial commitment to grid modernization. For a utility serving approximately 592,000 customers across eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania, this level of capital expenditure indicates FirstEnergy is prioritizing infrastructure hardening and smart grid technologies as core business strategies.

The timing is particularly relevant given the mentioned summer strain on systems from high temperatures and demand—increasingly common challenges that utilities must address as climate patterns shift. FirstEnergy's proactive approach to building additional capacity and flexibility represents prudent risk management in the evolving utility landscape.

READING, Pa., Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A major reliability project is underway in Adams County, Pennsylvania, to deliver stronger, more resilient electric service to nearly 2,300 residents and businesses, including Hanover Hospital, Alpha Fire Company and WellSpan Health.

The East Germantown-Germantown Reliability Project, led by Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT), a FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) company, includes a new substation and a 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that will enhance service reliability and support future growth in Adams County. This area is served by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, known locally as Met-Ed.

Smart Grid, Stronger Service

The new East Germantown Substation is scheduled to be built and energized by the end of March 2026. It will connect to the existing Germantown Substation via a newly constructed high voltage power line supported primarily by wood poles and steel structures where needed.

Once complete, the project will provide an additional source of electricity to the area, improve operational flexibility and expand switching capabilities – allowing for faster restoration by rerouting electricity more easily during outages.

John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania: "Earlier this summer, we saw how high temperatures and increased demand can strain the system and lead to outages. By adding a second power source and improving switching capabilities, we're building a stronger grid that can better handle peak loads and reduce the frequency and duration of outages."

Why this Project Matters to You:

If you live in southern Adams County, this project is all about helping to keep your lights on, especially when demand is high like during heat waves or storms. If you do experience an outage, this upgrade adds a second power source and smarter equipment that can reroute electricity when something goes wrong. That means:

• Fewer outages.
• Faster restoration.
• More reliable service for homes, hospitals and first responders.

It's like adding a backup generator to your neighborhood, but on a much larger scale. It's built to grow with the community, so as more homes and businesses come online, the system can keep up.

The transmission line route was carefully studied to minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive areas, property owners and local communities. Vegetation restoration and environmental work will continue into 2026 as part of the final stages of the project.

Part of a Bigger Plan

This work is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's $28 billion investment program to modernize the electric grid between 2025 and 2029. The goal: a smarter, more secure grid that meets the needs of today's customers and tomorrow's growth.

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. 

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. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp. 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/big-reliability-boost-coming-to-adams-county-302540218.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is FirstEnergy's East Germantown-Germantown Reliability Project?

It's a major infrastructure project in Adams County, PA, involving a new substation and 115-kilovolt transmission line to enhance electric service reliability for 2,300 customers, including Hanover Hospital and WellSpan Health.

When will FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) complete the East Germantown Substation?

The new East Germantown Substation is scheduled to be built and energized by the end of March 2026.

How many customers will benefit from FirstEnergy's Adams County reliability project?

The project will enhance electric service for nearly 2,300 residents and businesses, including critical facilities like Hanover Hospital and Alpha Fire Company.

What is FirstEnergy's Energize365 investment program?

Energize365 is FirstEnergy's $28 billion investment program running from 2025 to 2029, aimed at modernizing the electric grid to create a smarter, more secure power system.

How will the new transmission line project improve power reliability in Adams County?

The project will provide an additional power source, improve operational flexibility, and enable faster restoration by allowing electricity to be rerouted more easily during outages.