West Penn Power completes $368 million upgrade for 2,300 customers.

West Penn Power has completed a $368 million investment to upgrade its electric service, benefiting 2,300 customers in Unity and Hempfield townships. The upgrade includes new, larger wire and utility poles, crossarms, and transformers to reduce outages and support local growth. The investment aims to make electric service more reliable and resilient for customers.

West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has recently completed a significant investment in its electric service infrastructure, totaling $368 million. The upgrades, which benefit 2,300 customers in Unity and Hempfield townships, aim to enhance the reliability and resilience of the power grid [1].

The primary focus of the upgrade is the installation of new, larger wires along White School Road between the Dry Ridge Fire Station and Sawmill Road. This one-mile section of the grid will carry more electricity, reducing the frequency of outages and accommodating new homes and businesses. Additionally, the project includes the replacement of 10 wooden utility poles, 22 crossarms, several transformers, and other hardware [1].

John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, expressed his enthusiasm for the upgrades, stating, "We're energized to deliver these vital upgrades, bringing more reliable, resilient electric service that can better handle severe weather. The new equipment not only allows us to restore power faster during storms and maintenance – it reflects an investment in a stronger grid that empowers our communities to grow" [1].

The project also includes tree trimming to reduce outage risks and the installation of a manual switch on the line to facilitate easier isolation of damage and rerouting of power, speeding up repair times. Residents of the Jamell Acres, Glenn-Aire, Mountain Laurel, East High Acres, Country Estates, and Timbercrest housing plans, as well as those around Route 30, will benefit from this upgrade. The switching work will also benefit approximately 1,500 customers in the West Point and Eastgate areas of Hempfield Township [1].

This upgrade is part of West Penn Power's Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP) III, which fast-tracks important investments in electric system reliability. The LTIIP III investment for West Penn Power's service area is $368 million, contributing to the broader Energize365 program, a $28 billion investment by FirstEnergy to modernize the electric grid across its footprint between 2025 and 2029 [1].

References:
[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/big-upgrades-completed-to-meet-future-energy-demands-in-western-pennsylvania-ce7c51dcd88ff223