FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), operating as Penn Power, is undertaking a project to replace underground cables and associated equipment in a residential neighborhood of Butler County. This initiative aims to enhance electric service reliability for customers in the area.
John Hawkins, FirstEnergy President, Pennsylvania, explained the rationale behind the project: “We are investing in modern, durable underground cable with an expected lifespan of 40 years which should provide decades of reliable electric service for our Penn Power customers. The new cable will be placed in plastic PVC conduit to protect the line from water damage and corrosive soil elements. This method also enhances our crews’ ability to quickly access and repair wires, which can shorten the duration of service interruptions for our customers.”
The replacement work involves more than five miles of underground electric cable that has been serving homes along Leatherbark Road, Briarwood Lane, and Valley View Drive in Cranberry Township for over 30 years. The new installation will occur within existing rights-of-way adjacent to current lines. Additionally, transformers and other equipment will be evaluated and replaced if necessary.
Efforts will be made to minimize disruption by boring horizontally beneath driveways, sidewalks, and landscaping when feasible. However, areas with unmarked utilities or hard surfaces might require trenching. Completion is anticipated by summer’s end.
There may be brief planned outages needed during the transition from old to new systems; affected customers and officials will receive prior notification.
This project forms part of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania’s Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP III), encompassing a $133 million initiative over five years aimed at bolstering Penn Power’s distribution system reliability.
Additionally, LTIIP III contributes to Energize365—a broader grid evolution program planning $28 billion investments from 2025 through 2029—focusing on creating a smarter grid capable of supporting electric vehicles, home electrification initiatives, clean energy sources while ensuring reliability standards are met or exceeded.
Penn Power services approximately 173,000 customers across Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Lawrence and Mercer counties in western Pennsylvania.
For more information on FirstEnergy’s operations or updates regarding this project visit firstenergycorp.com or follow their social media channels.
News Media Contact: Todd Meyers at (724) 838-6650; Investor Contact: Karen Sagot at (330) 761-4286
