Work Underway to Enhance Electric Service Reliability for FirstEnergy's West Virginia Customers

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiaries Mon Power and Potomac Edison are set to complete five projects by the end of 2024 to enhance electric service reliability for nearly 8,700 customers in rural West Virginia communities. These projects, part of a three-year infrastructure investment pilot program, aim to reduce outages and improve restoration times. The $1.5 million investment includes:

1. Reinforcing a 1.8-mile backup power line in Berkeley County
2. Relocating a half-mile power line in Marion, Monongalia, and Preston counties
3. Converting 2.2 miles of power line to higher voltage in Nicholas County
4. Relocating power lines in Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Summers counties

These improvements will benefit customers across multiple rural areas by enhancing accessibility for repairs and reducing outage durations, particularly during severe weather.

Positive

• Investment of $1.5 million in infrastructure improvements
• Enhanced electric service reliability for 8,700 rural customers
• Reduction in number and duration of outages expected
• Improved accessibility for repairs and maintenance

Negative

• None.

Nearly 8,700 customers in rural communities to benefit from the projects

FAIRMONT, W.Va., Oct. 16, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mon Power and Potomac Edison, subsidiaries of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), are on track to complete five projects by the end of 2024 that will enhance electric service reliability for nearly 8,700 customers in rural communities by reducing the number and duration of outages they experience, particularly during severe weather.

The projects are part of a three-year West Virginia infrastructure investment pilot program approved earlier this year by the Public Service Commission of West Virginia as part of the companies' base rate review proceeding.

The program benefits rural communities through reliability projects, such as constructing backup power lines that will help keep the lights on for customers if wires or equipment on their regular line are damaged or need to be taken out of service. The companies are also relocating hard-to-access power lines to more accessible or less forested areas that will help reduce restoration time if a service disruption does occur.

Jim Myers, Vice President of FirstEnergy's West Virginia and Maryland Operations: "Our three-year infrastructure investment pilot program will make a meaningful impact for customers in our rural communities by reducing their exposure to outages and helping ensure they have safe, reliable power to support their lives."

Representing $1.5 million in infrastructure investments, the projects scheduled to be complete and in service by the end of 2024 include:

• Berkeley County: Reinforcing and rewiring a 1.8-mile backup power line, benefiting 2,577 Potomac Edison customers in Inwood.
• Marion, Monongalia and Preston counties: Relocating a half-mile length of power line from a ravine to a more accessible and less forested area. The relocation will make the line accessible via bucket truck and will decrease the time needed to repair damage and restore service. The project will benefit 2,091 customers located in Fairmont, Gladesville, Hebron and Ringgold.
• Nicholas County: Converting 2.2 miles of a power line from a 4-kilovolt (kV) voltage to 12-kV, enhancing reliability for 821 customers in Richwood.
• Pocahontas and Greenbrier counties: Relocating a half-mile length of power line from a cliffside to a more accessible area. The relocation will decrease the time needed to restore service and will benefit 1,707 customers in Renick, Modoc, Rorer, Horrock, Droop, Spice and Hillsboro.
• Summers County: Relocating a mile of power line from a cliffside to a more accessible area. The relocation will decrease the time needed to restore service and will benefit 1,472 customers in Browning, Wiggins and Forest Hill.

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.

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/work-underway-to-enhance-electric-service-reliability-for-firstenergys-west-virginia-customers-302277938.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What projects is FirstEnergy (FE) undertaking in West Virginia?

FirstEnergy is completing five projects by the end of 2024 to enhance electric service reliability for nearly 8,700 rural customers in West Virginia. These include reinforcing backup power lines, relocating hard-to-access lines, and converting power lines to higher voltage.

How much is FirstEnergy (FE) investing in West Virginia infrastructure?

FirstEnergy is investing $1.5 million in infrastructure improvements for its West Virginia customers through these five projects.

When will FirstEnergy (FE) complete its West Virginia reliability projects?

FirstEnergy plans to complete and have in service all five reliability projects in West Virginia by the end of 2024.

Which areas in West Virginia will benefit from FirstEnergy's (FE) reliability projects?

The projects will benefit customers in Berkeley, Marion, Monongalia, Preston, Nicholas, Pocahontas, Greenbrier, and Summers counties in West Virginia.