New Substation Enhances Power Reliability for Nearly 2,000 Customers in West Virginia and Maryland

According to a press release from FirstEnergy Corp., a newly constructed substation in Morgan County, West Virginia, is now operational and is expected to significantly improve the reliability of electricity for approximately 1,900 customers served by Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy electric company. The modern facility incorporates advanced technology aimed at reducing the frequency and duration of power outages for residents and businesses in the affected areas.

Construction on the project commenced in the summer of the previous year, with the substation beginning to supply power in September. This upgrade replaces an older facility that relied on a lengthy, six-mile power line that traversed challenging, mountainous terrain. The new substation is situated on a 20-acre site owned by Potomac Edison and is connected by a more accessible and safer power line, making it less prone to disruptions, particularly during adverse weather conditions. The completion of this work is a key step in ensuring consistent power delivery to an estimated 1,600 customers in the Great Cacapon area and an additional 320 customers in Little Orleans, Maryland. The previous substation and its associated power line will be decommissioned and removed.

The modernized substation is equipped with smart grid technology designed to enhance service stability and speed up restoration efforts. These features include automated devices capable of detecting and isolating electrical problems, as well as remotely restoring service without the need for immediate on-site crew dispatch. Furthermore, the technology can accurately pinpoint the location of outages, thereby expediting repair times. Collectively, these advancements are intended to result in fewer, shorter, and less extensive power interruptions for customers.

This substation project is part of FirstEnergy’s broader “Energize365” initiative, a substantial $28 billion investment program planned across its five-state service territory from 2025 to 2029. The overarching objective of Energize365 is to modernize the electric grid, creating a more intelligent and secure system that can meet current customer demands while also accommodating future growth. Potomac Edison serves a significant customer base, with approximately 285,000 customers across various counties in Maryland and around 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. FirstEnergy itself is a major electric system, providing service to over six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York through its electric distribution companies.

Article by Mel Anara, based upon information from FirstEnergy Corp.

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