FirstEnergy $4 M transmission project underway
USA, Pennsylvania, Altoona: Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT), a transmission subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has begun construction of a new transmission line in Altoona.
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USA, Pennsylvania, Altoona: Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT), a transmission subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has begun construction of a new transmission line in Altoona.
The new 46 kV line linking Penelec’s Westfall substation near 17th Avenue to its 20th Street substation will provide a second source of electricity for the 20th Street substation. At present, the 20th Street substation and the distribution lines leaving the substation are fed by a lone transmission line, which could result in lengthy power outages if repairs were required on that line.
The new line will provide flexibility to the transmission and distribution system to quickly restore power to customers after service interruptions resulting from storms, vehicle accidents or equipment issues.
“This project will yield immediate benefits for about 3,000 of our residential and commercial customers in the downtown area, ” said Nick Austin, regional president of Penelec. “Rather than having to wait until repairs are completed when there is a problem, we will have the capability to quickly get the lights back on for our customers by temporarily switching to a different power source.”
Crews are now setting poles, and the work is expected to be complete in mid-August. The 1.6 km (1 mi) line will cost about $4 M.
As part of its ongoing Energising the Future investment program, FirstEnergy is upgrading or replacing existing transmission lines, constructing new lines, incorporating new, smart technology into the grid, and outfitting dozens of substations with new equipment and advanced security features. These upgrades are increasing reliability across the FirstEnergy transmission system.
This summer, crews will also begin rebuilding the existing 46 kV line connecting the 20th Street substation to the Collinsville substation at a cost of approximately $4 M.
Source: FirstEnergy