Mon Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has received $5 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. This grant aims to improve electric service reliability for customers in rural West Virginia. The funds are part of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas program, which was established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The allocated funding will be used to rebuild over 23 miles of power lines in Pocahontas, Braxton, and Clay counties. Additionally, it will connect a two-mile alternate power line with a substation in Petersburg, Grant County. This project is expected to enhance reliability for more than 3,000 customers by allowing Mon Power and its sister company Potomac Edison to restore service faster during outages.
Jim Myers, Vice President of FirstEnergy’s West Virginia Operations, stated: “We’re honored to receive this funding, and we look forward to applying it toward system improvements that will make a real difference for thousands of our customers in rural West Virginia, reducing the number and duration of outages they experience.”
In May, Mon Power was chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy to begin award negotiations. Their proposal was one among 19 community-led projects selected across 12 states and 13 tribal nations and communities. These projects were awarded more than $78 million collectively to develop sustainable clean energy solutions or expand access to reliable energy in rural areas.
Mon Power plans to start construction on this project in 2025. Company representatives have engaged with various local agencies about the proposal and incorporated community feedback into their plans. They also intend to collaborate with community-based organizations in affected counties to address workforce disparity gaps.
Mon Power serves approximately 395,000 customers across 34 West Virginia counties. Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in Maryland and an additional 155,000 customers in West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle.
FirstEnergy emphasizes integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence through its electric distribution companies serving over six million customers across several states including Ohio and Pennsylvania.
For further information or inquiries: News Media Contact - Will Boye at (301) 790-6420; Investor Contact - Gina Caskey at (330) 761-4185.