FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary Potomac Edison has commenced construction on a new substation in Morgan County, West Virginia, aimed at enhancing reliability for 1,800 customers in the area. The facility, located in Great Cacapon, will replace an existing substation and will be fed by a more accessible and reliable 138-kilovolt (kV) power line.
The current substation is supplied by a six-mile, 34.5-kV power line that traverses rocky and mountainous terrain, making repairs challenging during severe weather. The new substation's location on a 20-acre parcel owned by Potomac Edison will mitigate these issues.
The project includes the installation of automated reclosing devices designed to limit the frequency and duration of service interruptions. These devices function like home circuit breakers but have the added capability of automatically reenergizing substations or power lines within seconds for certain types of outages. This technology allows for quicker restoration of service without requiring personnel to investigate onsite, which is particularly advantageous in rural areas like Morgan County.
In cases of more serious issues such as fallen trees on electrical equipment, the devices can isolate the outage to minimize the number of affected customers. They also feature smart technology that quickly identifies fault locations to expedite restoration efforts.
Don McGettigan, FirstEnergy's Acting President for Maryland, stated: "This new infrastructure will make a real difference for customers in the Great Cacapon area and will help ensure we can deliver the safe, reliable power they depend on."
The new substation is expected to be operational by 2025 and will serve approximately 1,600 customers in Great Cacapon and 200 in Little Orleans, Maryland. Following its completion, the existing substation and connecting power line will be decommissioned.
This $4 million project is part of Energize365, a multi-year grid evolution program with planned investments of $26 billion between 2024 and 2028. The program aims to create a smarter and more secure grid capable of meeting future demands including electric vehicles, electrification of homes and businesses, and integration of clean energy sources.
Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers across several counties in Maryland and approximately 151,000 customers in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. More information can be found on their website or social media platforms.
FirstEnergy operates one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the U.S., serving over six million customers across multiple states with extensive transmission infrastructure connecting key regions.
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News Media Contact: Will Boye at (301) 790-6420
Investor Contact: Gina Caskey at (330) 761-4185