Project designed to enhance service
reliability for about 900 rural customers
READING,
Pa., July 21, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Met-Ed, a
subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is upgrading its
distribution system in York County,
Pennsylvania, to help prevent or minimize the length of
service disruptions, particularly during severe weather. The work
includes creating a "tie" point between two power lines and
installing a remote-control switch that can communicate real-time
conditions on the local power network to system operators and allow
them to temporarily switch customers from one line to the other to
keep the lights on when utility workers must make repairs.
The upgrades are part of Met-Ed's Long Term Infrastructure
Improvement Plan, a $153 million
initiative to accelerate capital investments to the company's
electric distribution system over five years to help ensure
continued electric service reliability for customers.
"Part of our service territory in southeastern York County near the Susquehanna River is
rugged and densely wooded, increasing the potential for
tree-related outages," said Scott
Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania Operations.
"The work we are doing will provide an alternative power source to
feed nearly 900 customers in the New Bridgeville and Brogue areas,
benefitting them by shortening the duration of service
interruptions while crews work to restore power following an
outage."
Scheduled to begin later this year, the project involves
reconstructing a two-mile section of power line and installing a
new switch enabled with supervisory control and data acquisition
(SCADA) technology to create a common tie point between two lines
in Chanceford Township, one running from New Bridgeville Road to
Gipe Road, and the second from Lucky Road to Gipe Road.
The tie line will utilize SCADA to convey real-time information
on current voltage and electric conditions to distribution system
operators. Operators can control the SCADA switch remotely from
their control center to quickly transfer customers from one circuit
to the other when necessary.
Met-Ed plans to install more automated devices on the local
power network in the next several years to take advantage of the
SCADA switch's smart capability, which allows it to sense
conditions on the system and operate automatically.
Met-Ed serves approximately 580,000 customers within 3,300
square miles of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Follow Met-Ed on Twitter @Met Ed
and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetEdElectric.
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 and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.
Editor's Note: A photo of line workers replacing a
utility pole and cross arms is available on Flickr.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.