AVON LAKE, Ohio, Aug. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of its
ongoing efforts to protect birds that nest or perch near energized
electrical equipment, The Illuminating Company, a subsidiary
of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), completed proactive work along
power lines at Redwood Elementary School in Avon Lake, Ohio, where young eagles often rest
for short periods of time.
The company installed a tall wooden extension atop a utility
pole that will provide a safer perching location for the birds away
from energized equipment. In addition, nearby power lines were
insulated to ensure the birds' safety if they make accidental
contact with the wires.
"This project is a testament to the value of working closely
with our local communities and residents who serve as the company's
eyes and ears to report avian concerns, like dangerous perching
habits, that would otherwise likely go undetected," said
Amy Ruszala, an environmental
scientist and avian expert at FirstEnergy. "When community members
alert us to these types of concerns, we're able to take swift
action to prevent an accident that is out of our control."
FirstEnergy's environmental team and utility personnel routinely
inspect power equipment, like utility poles, substations and
transmission towers, for bird nests. When a nest is located on or
near electrical equipment, the company works with state and federal
wildlife officials to either relocate the nest if it poses an
immediate threat to the birds or remove it when the birds are south
for the winter.
While the eagle nest in Avon
Lake was not situated on or near electrical equipment,
residents within the community contacted The Illuminating Company
when they noticed young eaglets learning to fly taking breaks on a
utility pole near the school, putting them near energized power
lines that jeopardized their safety. Within days, utility personnel
installed temporary rubber bird guard coverings on the power lines
to insulate the wires until they had materials on hand to perform
the final work.
Over the past five years, FirstEnergy and its electric companies
have completed more than 100 projects to protect birds of prey,
like eagles and ospreys. The work includes installing large, wooden
nesting platforms or perch arms near electrical equipment where
birds prefer to nest or temporarily rest, insulating power lines
near perch or nest locations and adding large, bright visual
markers on power lines to alert birds to the wires.
FirstEnergy and The Illuminating Company have made great strides
enhancing avian protection efforts, including the implementation of
drones to complete bird nest inspections and deployment of a mobile
app that allows utility personnel to report avian issues in real
time, streamlining the process to protect nesting birds and enhance
electric service reliability. These ongoing efforts continue to
help reduce power outages caused by nesting birds.
The Illuminating Company serves more than 750,000 customers
across Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake
and Lorain counties. Follow The
Illuminating Company on Twitter @IlluminatingCo and on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/IlluminatingCo.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form
one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems,
serving 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 www.firstenergycorp.com.
Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.
Editor's Note: Photos of The Illuminating Company
utility personnel installing the wooden perch arm and insulated
bird guard covers are available for download on Flickr.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.