Westmoreland County Power Grid Enhancements Set to Boost Reliability and Speed Restoration

Residents and businesses in Westmoreland County are poised to benefit from significant upgrades to the local power grid, as FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company (FE PA), operating as West Penn Power, undertakes a comprehensive modernization project.

Initiated in August 2025, this ambitious endeavor focuses on enhancing the resilience and reliability of electric service for approximately 5,000 customers in New Kensington, Arnold, and Lower Burrell.

Central to the project is the reinforcement of two critical power lines: one along 7th Street Road between Lower Burrell and New Kensington, and another near Drey Street in Arnold.

Crews are installing over a mile of robust, larger-diameter wire capable of handling increased electrical loads and withstanding severe weather conditions.

Additional improvements encompass the replacement of more than 50 wooden utility poles, 97 crossarms, 10 transformers, 22 fuses, and 38 lightning-protection devices.

These enhancements are designed to fortify the system against potential disruptions.

Vegetation management is also a key component, with tree trimming along the lines aimed at reducing the risk of outages caused by falling branches.

To expedite service restoration, eight remote-controlled reclosing switches are being installed.

These devices can automatically isolate faults and restore power within seconds for certain types of outages, while also assisting crews in swiftly identifying and addressing issues.

Furthermore, a new tie line is being established to interconnect local power lines, facilitating the seamless transfer of customers to alternative lines during maintenance or repairs.

John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania operations, emphasized the significance of these upgrades, stating, "Our investments in innovative technology and stronger equipment help us deliver safe, dependable service for our customers and support growth in our communities."

He highlighted the challenges posed by the 7th Street Road line, which traverses dense woodland and is susceptible to tree-related damage during severe weather.

The new switches will enable the rapid transfer of thousands of customers to a nearby line, ensuring continuity of service while repairs are conducted.

This initiative is part of FE PA's Long Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP) III, a $368 million investment aimed at accelerating critical enhancements to the electric system's reliability.

LTIIP III is a component of Energize365, FirstEnergy's comprehensive program to modernize the electric grid, with a planned investment of $28 billion between 2025 and 2029.

The overarching goal is to develop a smarter, more secure grid that meets the evolving needs of today's customers and anticipates future growth.

West Penn Power serves approximately 725,000 customers across 24 counties in central and southwestern Pennsylvania.

As the project nears completion this month, residents in the affected areas can look forward to a more robust and responsive electric service, marking a significant step forward in the region's infrastructure development.