1. FirstEnergy invests $368 million for grid upgrades in Pennsylvania. 2. 2,300 customers will benefit from improved electric service reliability. 3. Upgrades include new poles, wires, and transformers. 4. Enhanced infrastructure aims to support local growth and reduce outages. 5. Project is part of FirstEnergy's broader $28 billion modernization program.
The significant investment in infrastructure underlines FirstEnergy's commitment to reliability, potentially boosting customer satisfaction and revenue, similar impacts have historically followed major infrastructure upgrades.
The article highlights a significant infrastructure investment that positively affects FE's market position and customer service capabilities, leading to potential long-term financial benefits.
These upgrades enhance the future reliability and capacity of FirstEnergy's services, which can drive growth over time, particularly with increasing energy demands.
Electric service upgrades part of $368 million investment to benefit West Penn Power customers
GREENSBURG, Pa., Aug. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A major upgrade has been completed in Westmoreland County to make electric service more reliable and resilient for 2,300 West Penn Power customers in Unity and Hempfield townships.
FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE:FE) company known in western Pennsylvania as West Penn Power, has rebuilt a key section of its local power grid to help reduce outages, speed restoration times and support local growth.
Upgraded Grid, Stronger Service
A one-mile section of new, larger wire running along White School Road between the Dry Ridge Fire Station and Sawmill Road will carry more electricity, helping to reduce the frequency of outages and accommodate new homes and businesses. The upgrades also include new utility poles, crossarms and transformers.
John Hawkins, FirstEnergy President, Pennsylvania: "We're energized to deliver these vital upgrades, bringing more reliable, resilient electric service that can better handle severe weather. The new equipment not only allows us to restore power faster during storms and maintenance – it reflects an investment in a stronger grid that empowers our communities to grow."
Upgrades that Deliver Impact
The project includes:
Supporting Your Neighborhood
Residents of the Jamell Acres, Glenn-Aire, Mountain Laurel, East High Acres, Country Estates and Timbercrest housing plans and around Route 30 will benefit from the project. The switching work will also benefit about 1,500 customers in the West Point and Eastgate areas of Hempfield Township.
Work started in May and was completed several weeks ago.
Photos of newly installed poles and crews installing wire along White School Road in Unity Township are available on Flickr.
Part of a Larger Plan
This project builds on steps taken in 2024, when West Penn Power installed wildlife guards – special rubber boots or sleeves that keep squirrels and other animals from causing outages on heavily wooded lines.
The upgrades are part of FE PA's Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP) III, which fast-tracks important investments in electric system reliability. The LTIIP III investment for West Penn Power's service area is $368 million.
LTIIP is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's $28 billion investment program to modernize the electric grid across the footprint between 2025 and 2029. The goal: a smarter, more secure grid that meets the needs of today's customers and tomorrow's growth.
West Penn Power serves approximately 725,000 customers in 24 counties within central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Follow West Penn Power on X @W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at facebook.com/WestPennPower.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.