American Transmission Systems, Inc. (ATSI), a FirstEnergy Transmission company, announced on Apr. 14 that it is nearing completion of significant upgrades to the local power grid in Trumbull County, Ohio. The improvements are aimed at providing more reliable electric service to over 16,000 residents and businesses in Howland and Bazetta townships.
The project is intended to reduce outages and improve restoration times for customers in the area. It involves rebuilding nearly three miles of the Niles Central-Packard 138-kilovolt transmission line by replacing old wooden poles with steel structures set in concrete foundations and installing thicker wires capable of carrying more electricity and withstanding severe weather events.
Mark Mroczynski, President of Transmission for FirstEnergy, said: “This project is about giving Trumbull County families and businesses dependable power they can count on every day. By strengthening this part of the local grid, we’re reducing risks that cause outages and ensuring the system can handle growing demand. Since 2014, our transmission companies have made ongoing investments that have reduced high‑voltage line outages by 50%, and we’re continuing that work through projects like this to further strengthen reliability.”
The upgrades are expected to help the electric grid handle higher demand during extreme weather conditions, reduce overloads leading to outages, restore service faster when problems occur, and support growth in Trumbull County. The construction began last fall and is scheduled for completion by the end of summer.
This $24 million project is part of Energize365—FirstEnergy’s long-term investment program designed to modernize its infrastructure. Between 2026 and 2030, FirstEnergy plans to invest $36 billion into building a smarter grid across its service areas.
FirstEnergy focuses on corporate responsibility through environmental initiatives and community engagement according to its official website. The company manages about 24,000 miles of transmission lines as well as over 269,000 miles of distribution lines as detailed on its official website. FirstEnergy has also been recognized for compliance leadership along with awards for environmental efforts and military-friendly practices according to its official website.
The company serves more than six million customers across several states including Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York according to its official website, operates one of the nation’s largest investor-owned electric systems and aims “to function as a progressive electric utility emphasizing integrity and reliability” supported by a diverse workforce dedicated “to improving customer experiences [and] environmental conditions.”
