Penelec Completing Inspections and Maintenance Prior to Summer Season to Help Enhance Customer Service Reliability

READING, Pa., June 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With upcoming hot, humid summer months expected to produce higher electric usage, Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, is completing inspections and conducting equipment maintenance in its 31-county western and central Pennsylvania service area territory to enhance service reliability for customers.

Helicopter patrols have completed inspections on about 2,500 miles of transmission lines located in the Penelec area.  The inspections are designed to look for damaged wire, broken cross arms, failed insulators, and other hardware problems not visible from the ground.  Any potential reliability issues identified during the inspection will be addressed.

On the ground, Penelec crews are inspecting distribution circuits, including transformers, capacitors, reclosers and lightning arrestors to ensure the equipment is operational and the lines are ready to perform efficiently when demand for electricity increases during the summer, typically due to air conditioning usage.

"The summer heat and humidity results in our customers using more fans and air conditioning to stay cool," said Scott Wyman, Penelec regional president.  "By conducting proactive inspections and equipment maintenance, we help ensure system reliability to meet this increased demand for electricity."

In addition, a team of Penelec and FirstEnergy employees recently conducted readiness exercises to test the company's restoration process used to repair storm-related power outages.  Storm drills are becoming more common in the utility industry in the wake of severe weather over the last several years.

Tree trimming is another key to preparing Penelec's system to meet the rigors of summer operations by maintaining proper clearances around electrical systems and helping to protect against tree-related outages.  Penelec tree contractors have trimmed approximately 800 circuit miles of electric transmission and distribution lines since January and expect to trim another 3,200 miles by year end.

For updated company information, including hot weather tips, customers are urged to visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.

In addition to the work being done by company employees, summer also is a time when roofers, home builders, lawn service workers and other contractors work long hours.  To help stay safe around electrical equipment while on the job, FirstEnergy offers important tips at www.firstenergycorp.com/contractorsafety.

Penelec serves approximately 600,000 customers in 31 Pennsylvania counties.  Follow Penelec on Twitter @Penelec and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PenelecElectric.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York.  The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.  Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.