AKRON, Ohio – American Transmission Systems, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy, has installed nearly 250 new insulators along a 22-mile section of transmission line that runs through Mahoning and Columbiana counties.
The new equipment will help ensure the electric grid remains reliable and resilient for about 1,500 Ohio Edison customers in the Mahoning Valley, a news release said.
New horizontal insulators were installed on the 69 kV transmission line, which runs southwest from a substation in Boardman Township to a substation in Salem. Insulators separate high voltage transmission lines from grounded support towers and help maintain safe and consistent power delivery. The new insulators attach directly to the columns and eliminate the need for the cross arms that were removed, the release states.
Work to replace the insulators began in August 2022 and was completed in March. Several poles were also replaced as part of the $5 million project.
“This new and updated equipment will help prevent potential power outages and ensure our transmission system continues to serve customers safely and reliably into the future,” said Carl Bridenbaugh, FirstEnergy vice president of transmission.
The project is part of Energize365, a multi-year grid development program. Through planned investments of $26 billion between 2024 and 2028, the program aims to create a smarter, safer grid that meets and exceeds reliability goals and accommodates electric vehicles, electrification of homes and businesses, and clean energy sources, the release said.
Pictured above: File image courtesy of FirstEnergy.
Published by Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
