Investing in Power Grid Reliability for Toledo Edison Families and Businesses in Northwest Ohio

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) and its transmission unit ATSI began construction Oct 22, 2025 on a major reliability project in Fulton County, Ohio that includes a new substation and a nine-mile 345-kV transmission line to serve Delta Village, Fulton, Pike, Swan Creek and York townships.

The substation is planned to be operational by December 2026 and will connect to the existing Sydney Substation via two new half-mile lines. The work is part of Energize365, a $28 billion grid modernization program (2025–2029), and ATSI plans to invest more than $200 million in northwest Ohio. FirstEnergy notes its transmission companies reduced outages on >100-kV lines by 50% since 2014.

Positive

• New substation planned to be operational by December 2026
• Nine-mile 345-kV transmission line added in Fulton County
• Two new half-mile lines connecting to the Sydney Substation
• Energize365 $28 billion grid investment program (2025–2029)
• ATSI investing more than $200 million in northwest Ohio
• Transmission companies report 50% fewer outages on >100-kV lines since 2014

Negative

• None.

Insights

Transmission Infrastructure Analyst

New substation and a nine‑mile 345‑kV line backed by a $28 billion modernization plan should materially raise local grid reliability.

The project adds a new substation tied to the existing Sydney Substation with two half‑mile lines and a nine‑mile 345‑kV transmission route, creating alternate paths for power and increasing capacity. That network redundancy reduces single‑point failures and lets crews restore service faster, which directly improves service for homes and businesses served by Toledo Edison.

Dependencies and risks include timely commissioning by December 2026, successful integration with existing protection and control systems, and execution of the physical build. The announcement cites a 50% reduction in outages on >100‑kV lines since 2014 as context, but the local benefit depends on completion on schedule and correct interconnection work.

Concrete items to watch: completion of the substation by December 2026, progress milestones for the nine‑mile line, and the local spend pace from the $200 million northwest Ohio allocation within the broader $28 billion Energize365 program; expect meaningful local reliability improvements once the substation and ties are energized within the stated timeframe.

Construction recently kicked off on new substation and backup power lines

TOLEDO, Ohio, Oct. 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A major reliability project is transforming electric service in Fulton County, delivering stronger, more resilient power to thousands of residents and businesses in the greater Toledo area, including customers of Toledo Edison, a FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) electric company.

Led by American Transmission Systems, Inc. (ATSI), a FirstEnergy Transmission company, the project includes a new substation and nine-mile-long 345-kilovolt (kV) transmission line to help prevent or minimize the impact of power outages in and around Delta Village, Fulton, Pike, Swan Creek and York townships and support continued future growth in northwest Ohio.

Faster Fixes, Fewer Outages
A new electric substation is planned to be up and running by December 2026. It will be connected to the existing Sydney Substation by two new half-mile power lines. These additions will bring more electricity to the area, making the system more flexible if a customer's main power line is taken out of service and will help crews restore power more quickly during outages.

It's like upgrading your neighborhood's power grid from a two-lane road to a multi-lane highway. More lanes mean more capacity, smoother traffic flow and fewer bottlenecks—especially during rush hour when energy demand is high. Just like a well-designed highway system, it's built to grow with the community, keeping pace as more homes and businesses come online.

Since 2014, FirstEnergy's transmission companies have collectively reduced outages by 50% on high-voltage power lines exceeding 100-kVs – proof that the companies' strategic infrastructure investments, like this work in northwest Ohio, are making the grid more reliable for customers.

Why this Project Matters to You
If you live in Fulton County, this project is all about helping your lights stay on, especially when demand is high, like during heat waves or cold snaps and during storms. If you do experience an outage, this upgrade adds back up power sources and smarter equipment that can reroute electricity. That means:

• Fewer outages.
• Faster restoration.
• More reliable service for homes, businesses and companies looking to start or expand here.

Mark Mroczynski, President of Transmission for FirstEnergy: "Northwest Ohio has seen tremendous industrial growth in recent years, bringing new jobs, families and opportunities to the region. We're proud to support that momentum by investing in the power infrastructure needed to meet today's demand and tomorrow's potential."

View or download a video series on "Why a Modern Transmission System Matters to You" on FirstEnergy's YouTube channel.

Built for Today – and Tomorrow
This work is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's $28 billion investment program to modernize the electric grid between 2025 and 2029. In northwest Ohio alone, ATSI is investing more than $200 million in high-voltage grid enhancements over the next few years. The goal: a smarter, more secure grid that meets the needs of today's customers and tomorrow's growth.

View or download video of this grid enhancement work underway in Fulton County.

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/investing-in-power-grid-reliability-for-toledo-edison-families-and-businesses-in-northwest-ohio-302591709.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is FirstEnergy (FE) building in Fulton County, Ohio and when will it be ready?

FirstEnergy/ATSI is building a new substation and a nine-mile 345-kV line; the substation is planned to be operational by December 2026.

How much is ATSI investing in northwest Ohio as part of the FirstEnergy (FE) plan?

ATSI is investing more than $200 million in high-voltage grid enhancements in northwest Ohio over the next few years.

What is Energize365 and how does it relate to FirstEnergy (FE)?

Energize365 is FirstEnergy's $28 billion grid modernization program running from 2025 to 2029, funding projects including the Fulton County upgrades.

Will the Fulton County transmission upgrades reduce outages for Toledo Edison customers (FE)?

The upgrades add backup routes and smarter equipment; FirstEnergy reports its transmission companies have cut outages on >100-kV lines by 50% since 2014.

Which communities will benefit from the new FirstEnergy (FE) transmission work in northwest Ohio?

Customers in Delta Village, Fulton, Pike, Swan Creek and York townships in the greater Toledo area are the primary beneficiaries.