With the hot, humid summer months expected to produce higher electric usage and potentially severe weather, FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) doing business in eastern Pennsylvania as Met-Ed, is completing inspections and conducting proactive equipment maintenance across its service area to help enhance service reliability for customers.
John Hawkins, FirstEnergy's President, Pennsylvania, stated: "We proactively inspect and maintain our equipment to help ensure our system is prepared for increased electrical demand when temperatures climb. These important measures will also help to minimize the length and impact of service interruptions should summer storms cause power outages."
Met-Ed crews are wrapping up inspections of its local energy delivery system to ensure electrical equipment is ready to perform reliably with elevated summer electrical demand, typically due to air conditioning usage.
Substation electricians use thermovision cameras during summer-readiness inspections to capture infrared images, helping to detect potential problems within substations and on power lines that cannot be observed during regular visual inspections. These images can identify equipment issues such as loose connections, corrosion, and load imbalances, allowing utility workers to make repairs to prevent potential power outages in the future.
A video on the company's YouTube channel shows utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection.
In addition, helicopter patrols have completed inspections of nearly 970 miles of power lines owned by Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission, LLC (MAIT), a FirstEnergy Corp. transmission subsidiary located in the Met-Ed service area. The inspections identify damaged wire, broken cross arms, and other hardware problems not visible from the ground. Any potential reliability issues identified during the inspections will be addressed.
Since the beginning of the year, tree contractors have trimmed along about 950 miles of power lines as part of FirstEnergy's vegetation management program in the Met-Ed area. Work remains on schedule to complete an additional 2,160 miles by the end of the year. Maintaining proper clearances around electrical equipment is critical to providing safe, reliable electric service and can help reduce the frequency and duration of tree-related power outages, especially those associated with severe weather.
Trees are being trimmed in these counties and communities:
Adams – Berwick Township, Franklin Township, Hamilton Township, Latimore Township, Reading Township, Straban Township, Tyrone Township
Berks – Bally, Bechtelsville, Cumru Township, Douglass Township, Exeter, Hamburg Hereford Township Leesport Lenhartsville Longswamp Township Lynnville Marion Township Maxatawny Township Muhlenberg Township New Smithville New Tripoli Pike Township Reading Shillington Temple Topton Tulpehocken Township Washington Township
Bucks – Durham Nockamixon Township
Chester – Warwick Township
Dauphin – East Hanover
Lebanon – North Cornwall Township North Londonderry Township South Lebanon Township South Londonderry West Cornwall
Lehigh – Weisenberg
Monroe – Hamilton New Smithfield Ross Smithfield Stroud
Montgomery – New Hanover Upper Frederick Upper Hanover
Northampton – Bangor Bath East Allen East Bangor Easton Forks Lehigh Palmer Washington Williams
Pike – Delaware Dingman Lehman
York – Codorus Dallastown Dover Dover Fawn Glen Rock Hellam Hopewell Lower Windsor Manchester New Freedom Red Lion Shrewsbury Springettsbury Springfield Windsor York York
In addition to equipment inspections and maintenance work conducted recently storm-readiness exercises drills test restoration process used repair storm-related power outages becoming more common utility industry wake severe weather last several years With summer storm season comes higher-than-usual temperatures rising energy costs Customers take steps beat heat while managing electricity bill following tips help customers use electricity wisely period high demand Set thermostats high comfort allow Use fans moving air cools skin faster resulting greater comfort hot days During sunny weather close drapes blinds windows facing sun prevent direct radiant heating impacting interior temperatures Use programmable smart thermostat keep temperatures higher no one home reduce temperature before arrival back home Seal leaks caulk weather stripping prevent hot air sneaking into home Check air conditioner furnace fan filters Clogged filters waste energy money forcing HVAC systems work harder necessary Avoid using heat-producing appliances hottest hours day less heat produced home less work air conditioner must do Payment arrangements assistance programs available customers need help electric bills For more information visit firstenergycorp.com/billassist Met-Ed serves approximately 592000 customers within 3300 square miles eastern southeastern Pennsylvania Follow Met-Ed X formerly known Twitter @Met Ed Facebook facebook.com/MetEdElectric FirstEnergy dedicated integrity safety reliability operational excellence Its electric distribution companies form one nation largest investor-owned electric systems serving customers Ohio Pennsylvania New Jersey West Virginia Maryland New York company transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24000 miles transmission lines connect Midwest Mid-Atlantic regions Visit FirstEnergy online firstenergycorp.com follow FirstEnergy X @FirstEnergyCorp Editor Note Photos workers conducting thermovision inspections enhance service reliability FirstEnergy customers available download Flickr CONTACT News Media Contact Todd Meyers (724) 838-6650 Investor Contact Gina Caskey (330) 761-4185
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