The Illuminating Company Marks Reliability Milestone with Two New Transformers in Lakewood
Rhea-AI Summary
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) announced that The Illuminating Company delivered the first of two new 55-ton transformers to the Lakewood Substation, each representing about $1.85 million in investment. Once both are energized later in 2026, the project is expected to enhance reliability for nearly 11,000 customers in Lakewood and West Cleveland.
The work supports broader upgrades, including breaker replacements, pole-top equipment improvements, smart meter installations, and proactive tree trimming, which have already helped cut December 2025 outage time by 98% versus December 2024 and reduced overall outage time on local lines by 25%.
Positive
- Approximately $3.7 million invested in two new Lakewood transformers
- Reliability improvements expected for nearly 11,000 Lakewood and West Cleveland customers
- December 2025 outage time down 98% versus December 2024
- Local lines served by Lakewood Substation saw 25% decrease in outage time
- Equipment upgrades completed on or around 167 utility poles since October 2024
- Proactive tree trimming at nearly 100 locations to reduce outage risk
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – FE
On the day this news was published, FE gained 0.40%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jun 18 | Leadership changes | Neutral | +0.7% | Senior leadership appointments focused on transformation, ethics, compliance and security. |
| Jun 17 | Leadership changes | Neutral | +0.7% | New senior leaders appointed to drive operations, safety and technology performance. |
| Jun 17 | Storm preparedness | Neutral | +0.7% | Ohio utilities detailed readiness and resources for potential severe‑weather outages. |
| Jun 17 | Storm preparedness | Neutral | -3.3% | Pennsylvania utilities preparing for a fourth severe storm system in 12 days. |
| Jun 02 | Debt exchange offer | Neutral | -0.1% | Extension of exchange offer for multiple JCP&L senior note series. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent operational and financing news has usually led to small moves, with one larger negative reaction to storm‑related grid commentary.
Key Terms
smart meters technical
mobile substation technical
transmission lines technical
investor-owned electric systems financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Equipment supports ongoing reliability improvements to help reduce outages for customers
The transformer, weighing about 55 tons (equivalent to nine adult elephants), was transported by truck from
A second, identical transformer will be delivered to a local Illuminating Co. service center the week of June 29 before being moved to the Lakewood Substation later this summer. Each transformer represents an approximately
"The delivery of these transformers is an important step in building a stronger, more resilient electric system for
Building Better Reliability for Customers
Once both transformers are installed at the Lakewood Substation, customers can expect improved grid reliability, including the potential for reduced outage durations and faster service restoration times.
The substation will also gain greater back up capacity. This added flexibility gives crews more options to shift load and restore power more efficiently during outages and periods of peak demand.
In addition to improving reliability for customers directly served by the Lakewood Substation, this upgrade may also benefit surrounding communities. With increased capacity and flexibility,
Investments Already Making a Difference
The transformer installations are part of a series of upgrades already improving reliability in the
- Substation Upgrades: All four breakers have been replaced at a substation serving
Lakewood , which helps strengthen the equipment that supplies power toLakewood . - Neighborhood Equipment Upgrades: Crews have resolved voltage issues in several areas and continue replacing equipment on neighborhood utility poles to improve reliability and reduce the risk of outages. Since October 2024, we've completed work on equipment atop or around 167 poles.
- Smart Meter Installations: We've started to install smart meters, a step toward a more modernized electric system that will enable automated meter readings and enhance our ability to respond to outages faster and more efficiently.
- Proactive Tree Trimming: Crews have pruned trees in nearly 100 locations ahead of schedule to reduce outages caused by falling limbs, a top cause for outages in
Ohio .
Recent work has also reduced the length of outages for customers, with the total time customers were without power dropping by
What's Next
Crews will now begin the work to complete transformer installation in the coming weeks, and the transformers are on track to be energized later this year. To maintain service during construction, the mobile substation will continue operating until the new equipment is fully installed and energized.
The Illuminating Company serves more than 750,000 customers across
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
Editor's Note: Images and video of the transformer delivery are available to download from Flickr.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-illuminating-company-marks-reliability-milestone-with-two-new-transformers-in-lakewood-302811187.html
SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.