Mon Power and Potomac Edison Invest $13 Million to Boost Reliability for Rural West Virginia Communities

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Mon Power and Potomac Edison (NYSE: FE) will invest $13 million in 2025 to improve electric reliability for more than 12,700 rural West Virginia customers under a three-year pilot approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia. Projects target reduced outage frequency and duration through new power lines, stronger wire, additional substation transformers and automated smart technologies.

Key 2025 projects include a four-mile backup line in Berkeley and Morgan counties serving 5,400 customers; a second transformer in Union, Greenbrier County for 2,238 customers; wire upgrades in Hancock County covering ~3,100 customers; and a two-mile tie-line upgrade in Tyler County for 2,000 customers.

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FAIRMONT, W.Va., Nov. 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Electric service reliability for more than 12,700 rural West Virginia customers of Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE), will get a boost from a $13 million infrastructure investment this year. The projects aim to reduce the frequency and duration of outages – especially during severe weather – as part of a three-year pilot program approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.

New and Upgraded Equipment
The program benefits rural communities through reliability projects that help keep the lights on for customers if wires or equipment on their regular line are out of service. Work includes:

• Building new power lines
• Upgrading to stronger wire
• Adding additional substation transformers
• Installing automated smart technologies

Jim Myers, FirstEnergy President of West Virginia and Maryland: "We understand the unique challenges faced by rural communities, and we are committed to providing the dependable power customers in these areas need to thrive. Our investment in new and upgraded power lines and other equipment is designed to reduce the frequency of outages and reinforce reliable service, even during severe weather."

Targeted Upgrades for Reliable Service
The 2025 infrastructure investment projects include:

• Berkeley and Morgan counties: Building a four-mile power line to connect two lines serving 5,400 customers in Hedgesville. This connection will provide backup power, minimizing outages. The new line will have a protective covering to help keep it energized despite contact with branches, trees or animals.
  
  
• Greenbrier County: Installing a second transformer at a substation in Union to provide power backup for 2,238 customers while supporting future growth in the area.
  
  
• Hancock County: Upgrading wire on an existing line in Weirton that provides a backup power source for over 3,100 customers. The higher capacity line will enable Mon Power to restore service to customers more quickly in the event of an outage.
  
  Other new equipment to keep power in Hancock County running smoothly includes regulators, which control voltage to help make sure lights and appliances get the right amount of power, and reclosers, which act like circuit breakers – automatically shutting off electricity when there's a problem, then turning it back on once it's safe.
  
  
• Tyler County: Upgrading wire on an existing two-mile tie line to minimize the frequency and duration of outages for 2,000 customers in Friendly and Sistersville.

Mon Power serves about 395,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power at mon-power.com, on X @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook at facebook.com/MonPowerWV.

Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on X @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 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.

FAQ

What is the size and purpose of FirstEnergy's $13 million Mon Power and Potomac Edison investment (FE) announced Nov. 13, 2025?

The company announced a $13 million 2025 investment to boost rural West Virginia reliability by building lines, upgrading wire, adding transformers and installing automated technologies.

How many West Virginia customers will benefit from the Nov. 13, 2025 Mon Power and Potomac Edison projects (FE)?

More than 12,700 rural customers across targeted county projects are expected to benefit from the 2025 upgrades.

Which specific county projects are included in the Nov. 13, 2025 Mon Power and Potomac Edison reliability program (FE)?

2025 projects include a four-mile tie in Berkeley and Morgan (5,400 customers), a second transformer in Greenbrier (2,238 customers), wire upgrades in Hancock (~3,100 customers) and a two-mile tie-line in Tyler (2,000 customers).

Was regulatory approval required for the Mon Power and Potomac Edison three-year pilot announced Nov. 13, 2025 (FE)?

Yes. The three-year pilot program was approved by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia.

What technologies will FirstEnergy deploy in the Mon Power and Potomac Edison $13 million reliability program (FE)?

Planned deployments include stronger covered wire, additional substation transformers, voltage regulators, reclosers and automated smart technologies to speed restoration.