On February 3, 2023, FirstEnergy faced a challenging situation when emergency crews in East Palestine, Ohio, required the de-energization of power lines near a hazardous train derailment site. Thanks to the implementation of smart grid technology, the electric company was able to respond swiftly and effectively to the crisis, preventing further complications and ensuring customer safety.
Reflecting on the incident, John Shuman, an engineer at FirstEnergy, highlighted the significance of the automated equipment in managing the emergency without risking the safety of line crews. Shuman stated, “With the air quality as poor as it was during the hazmat spill caused by the derailment, we were so grateful we did not have to send linemen to the area. Using our remote-control capabilities, we were able to move the electric load around and feed power to customers from different directions, saving about 600 customers from seeing an outage that day.”
The successful use of the smart grid technology during the East Palestine train derailment underscored the importance of grid modernization efforts. Following the completion of the first round of updates in 2020-22, FirstEnergy witnessed significant improvements in restoration times for customers in Trumbull and Mahoning counties, particularly in complex outage scenarios resulting from severe weather or accidents.
To enhance public awareness and understanding of the advanced electrical equipment, FirstEnergy developed a “smart grid trailer” for educational purposes. This initiative allows the company to demonstrate how smart grid components function in real-life situations, emphasizing their role in ensuring a reliable and efficient power supply to customers.
Shuman emphasized the company’s commitment to expanding the use of smart grid technology across its service territory, stating, “Further implementing this technology across FirstEnergy’s service territory is critical to our goal of continuously improving reliability for our customers and keeping our line crews safe.”
In light of the positive outcomes observed during the East Palestine incident, FirstEnergy remains dedicated to enhancing grid resilience and customer service through the strategic deployment of innovative technologies.
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