Stronger, Smarter Power Grid to Improve Reliability for 6,000+ Customers in Berks County

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE:FE) and Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission are building the Van Reed 69-kV Transmission Project to strengthen service for more than 6,000 customers in central Berks County. The work includes a new substation in Bern Township and nearly four miles of 69-kV line on wood and steel poles.

Construction began in January, the project costs about $30 million, and is expected to be in service before the end of 2026. The upgrade is part of FirstEnergy's Energize365 grid program and supports regional reliability and economic growth.

Positive

• 6,000+ customers served with improved reliability
• New substation plus ~4-mile 69-kV transmission line
• Project cost: approximately $30 million
• $36 billion planned company investment 2026–2030
• Pennsylvania investment: about $13 billion through 2030

Negative

• None.

News Market Reaction – FE

+1.30%

1 alert

+1.30% News Effect

On the day this news was published, FE gained 1.30%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Key Figures

Customers impacted: 6,000+ customers Line length: nearly four miles Project cost: approximately $30 million +4 more

7 metrics

Customers impacted 6,000+ customers FirstEnergy Pennsylvania customers in Berks County

Line length nearly four miles New 69‑kV high‑voltage power line

Project cost approximately $30 million Van Reed 69‑kV Transmission Project

Capital plan $36 billion Planned grid investment between 2026 and 2030

Pennsylvania plan approximately $13 billion Planned investments in Pennsylvania through 2030

Transmission investments nearly $6.7 billion Planned Pennsylvania transmission investments through 2030

Distribution investments approximately $6.7 billion Planned Pennsylvania distribution investments through 2030

Market Reality Check

Price: $50.20 Vol: Volume 8,848,138 vs 20-da...

high vol

$50.20 Last Close

Volume Volume 8,848,138 vs 20-day average 5,457,050 (relative volume 1.62). high

Technical Price 48.94 is trading above 200-day MA at 44.1 and 2.97% below the 52-week high.

Peers on Argus

FE slipped 0.83% while peers AEE, ES, EIX, PPL and WEC declined between about 1....

1 Up

FE slipped 0.83% while peers AEE, ES, EIX, PPL and WEC declined between about 1.62% and 2.69%, indicating a broader regulated electric utilities pullback rather than company-specific trading.

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 17 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Feb 17	Earnings and outlook	Positive	-1.5%	Reported strong 2025 EPS, affirmed 2026 guidance and detailed $36B capital plan.
Feb 17	PIPP auction notice	Neutral	-1.5%	Announced Ohio PIPP RFP auction and bidder information session schedule.
Feb 13	New gas plant plan	Positive	-1.5%	Selected site for 1,200‑MW gas plant and proposed additional solar projects.
Feb 12	Reliability project update	Positive	+1.9%	Reported fewer outages as $95M New Jersey reliability program reached midpoint.
Feb 11	Dividend increase	Positive	+1.9%	Raised quarterly dividend to $0.465 per share, implying $1.86 annual rate.

Pattern Detected

Positive strategic and earnings updates have sometimes met with mixed or negative next-day reactions, while dividend and reliability news saw modest gains.

Recent Company History

Over the past weeks, FirstEnergy reported 2025 results with Core EPS of $2.55 and outlined a $36 billion 2026–2030 capital plan. It announced a new 1,200-megawatt gas plant in West Virginia and additional solar capacity, plus a $95 million New Jersey reliability project that has already reduced outages. The board increased the quarterly dividend to $0.465 per share. Today’s Berks County transmission investment fits into this broader grid-modernization and growth strategy under the Energize365 program.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement details an approximately $30 million transmission upgrade serving 6,000+ Berks Cou...

Analysis

This announcement details an approximately $30 million transmission upgrade serving 6,000+ Berks County customers, including a new 69‑kV substation and nearly four miles of high‑voltage line. It forms part of FirstEnergy’s planned $36 billion 2026–2030 grid investment, with about $13 billion targeted for Pennsylvania. Investors may watch execution on Energize365, regulatory treatment of capital spend, outage-reduction metrics, and how these projects support the longer-term earnings and dividend framework.

Key Terms

69-kV, substation, high-voltage power line, transmission system

4 terms

69-kV technical

"the Van Reed 69-kV Transmission Project includes constructing a new substation"

A 69-kV designation identifies electrical equipment or power lines that operate at around 69,000 volts, a mid-range transmission voltage used to move electricity between substations or serve industrial and large commercial customers. For investors it signals the scale and cost implications of electrical infrastructure—higher voltages move more power over longer distances but require more expensive equipment, safety measures and regulatory oversight, similar to how higher water pressure needs stronger pipes and valves.

substation technical

"includes constructing a new substation in Bern Township"

A substation is a fenced facility on the electricity network where equipment changes the voltage, routes power, and protects the grid so electricity can move safely and reliably from generation to homes and businesses. Investors care because substations are critical pieces of infrastructure: they affect service reliability, grid capacity and upgrade costs, and can influence the value and operating risk of utilities, real estate near outages, and companies in the energy supply chain.

high-voltage power line technical

"adding a nearly four mile, high-voltage power line on a combination of wood"

A high-voltage power line is a major electrical transmission route that carries large amounts of electricity over long distances, like a highway for electric power connecting generation sources to cities, factories and substations. Investors care because these lines are critical infrastructure that affect utility reliability, project costs, land use and regulatory approvals; ownership, upgrades or outages can influence revenues, operating expenses, asset value and risk for companies tied to energy and real estate.

transmission system technical

"the value of a modern transmission system through FirstEnergy's video series"

A transmission system is the high‑voltage network of lines, substations and control equipment that moves electricity (or other bulk energy) from generators to local distribution networks—like a highway carrying goods from factories to neighborhood streets. It matters to investors because who owns and operates the system, its capacity and reliability, and the rules governing its use drive predictable revenue, required capital spending and risk from outages or congestion, all of which affect a company’s cash flow and valuation.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

New transmission substation and power line to strengthen grid, support economic growth 

READING, Pa., Feb. 19, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A major upgrade to the electric grid is underway to bring more electricity to the region and support faster power restoration for more than 6,000 FirstEnergy Pennsylvania (FE PA) customers in Berks County.

Led by Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission LLC (MAIT), a FirstEnergy Transmission company, the Van Reed 69-kV Transmission Project includes constructing a new substation in Bern Township and adding a nearly four mile, high-voltage power line on a combination of wood and steel poles that add additional strength to the system. The work is designed to reduce outages around Reading, Bern Township and Leesport and support growth in southeastern Pennsylvania.

Mark Mroczynski, President of Transmission for FirstEnergy: "With valuable input from community members and public officials, we're delivering a project that reflects their feedback and supports what matters most to the region. This solution enhances service reliability for everyday customers while helping to attract new jobs, new families and new opportunities. We're proud to help carry that momentum forward by investing in the power infrastructure needed to meet today's demand and tomorrow's potential."

The project is moving forward with strong support from the Berks County Commissioners and local development agencies, who have played a pivotal role since the project's early planning nearly a decade ago. By working closely together, FE PA and MAIT are helping make sure the region has the dependable electric service it needs to help current and future employers grow and create opportunities.

Construction began in early January, and the project is expected to be in service before the end of this year.

What Upgrades Mean for Customers 

      If you live in central Berks County, this project is expected to help your lights stay on by handling higher demand during extreme cold and heat and standing up better to severe storms.

     If you do experience an outage, this upgrade adds backup 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.

Think of the work as upgrading from a two-lane road to a four-lane highway. With more capacity and stronger infrastructure, the system can better handle increased "traffic" and bounce back faster when issues occur.  

Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach: "This project is a critical investment in Berks County's future. Strengthening the power grid means more reliable electric service for our residents and businesses. This initiative paves the way for economic growth across the region, especially the area surrounding the Reading Regional Airport. It provides the power for existing businesses to expand and attracts new businesses while moving our community forward."

Jeffrey Rush, Board Chairman, Greater Reading Chamber Alliance: "The Greater Reading Chamber Alliance supports FirstEnergy's continued investment in expanding electric service in Berks County. Reliable, resilient energy infrastructure is foundational to business attraction, retention and expansion. These improvements strengthen our competitive position and support long-term economic growth across the region."

Built for Today – and Tomorrow

This approximately $30 million project is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's long-term investment program to modernize and strengthen the electric grid. FirstEnergy plans to invest $36 billion between 2026 and 2030 to build a smarter, more resilient grid that meets the evolving of communities across the service area. In Pennsylvania alone, the company plans to invest approximately $13 billion through 2030, consisting of nearly $6.7 billion in transmission investments and $6.7 billion in distribution investments.

Customers can learn more about the value of a modern transmission system through FirstEnergy's video series "Why a Modern Transmission System Matters to You" on the company's YouTube channel. 

About FirstEnergy Transmission and FirstEnergy Corp.

FirstEnergy Transmission, jointly owned by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) and Brookfield Super-Core Infrastructure Partners, owns and operates American Transmission Systems Inc. (ATSI), Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission LLC (MAIT) and Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company (TrAILCo).

FirstEnergy is 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.

Editor's Note: Photos of the substation and high‑voltage line construction are available to view and download on FirstEnergy's Flickr page.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stronger-smarter-power-grid-to-improve-reliability-for-6-000-customers-in-berks-county-302692712.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is the Van Reed 69-kV Transmission Project announced by FirstEnergy (FE)?

The project builds a new substation and nearly four miles of 69-kV line to strengthen local reliability. According to FirstEnergy, it adds backup sources and smarter equipment to reduce outages and speed restoration for central Berks County customers.

How many customers will FirstEnergy's Van Reed project benefit in Berks County (FE)?

The upgrade is expected to benefit more than 6,000 FirstEnergy Pennsylvania customers in central Berks County. According to FirstEnergy, the work aims to reduce outages around Reading, Bern Township and Leesport and support growth.

What is the cost and schedule for FirstEnergy's Van Reed project (FE)?

The Van Reed project costs approximately $30 million and began construction in January. According to FirstEnergy, it is expected to be completed and placed in service before the end of 2026 to enhance local grid resilience.

How does the Van Reed upgrade improve reliability for FE customers during storms and extreme weather?

The upgrade adds capacity, backup power sources and smarter equipment that can reroute electricity when lines fail. According to FirstEnergy, this design aims for fewer outages and faster restoration during extreme cold, heat and severe storms.

How does the Van Reed project fit into FirstEnergy's wider Energize365 investments (FE)?

The project is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's long-term grid modernization program. According to FirstEnergy, the company plans to invest $36 billion from 2026–2030, including about $13 billion in Pennsylvania through 2030.

What economic impact does the Van Reed project claim for the Reading region (FE)?

FirstEnergy says the upgrade supports economic growth by providing more reliable power for businesses and potential new employers. According to FirstEnergy, improved infrastructure helps attract investment, job growth and expansion near the Reading area.