FirstEnergy Awarded $50 Million Smart Grid Grant by U.S. Department of Energy

Core Points - FirstEnergy Corp. has been awarded $50 million in federal funding to enhance electric service reliability for over 53,000 customers in West Virginia and Maryland [1][2] - The funding is part of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships (GRIP) Program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law [1] - The total system upgrades are estimated to cost nearly $127 million, benefiting approximately 50,660 customers in West Virginia and 2,500 customers in Maryland [2] Project Details - The planned upgrades will include the installation of new technology and equipment aimed at reducing the number and duration of outages [3] - More than 450 critical facilities, including schools and hospitals, will benefit from improved electric service reliability [3] - Specific upgrades include smart devices on power lines for remote damage isolation, automation projects for switching customers to adjacent power lines during outages, and new wires capable of carrying increased electrical current [4] Customer Impact - In Mon Power's service area, approximately 47,260 customers across 13 counties will benefit from the upgrades [5] - In Potomac Edison's service area, around 3,400 customers in three counties in West Virginia and 2,500 customers in Western Maryland will see improvements [5] Workforce Development - The project will also create a new four-year apprenticeship program with training centers in Williamsport, Maryland, and Fairmont, West Virginia [6] - This program aims to address the ongoing need for new line workers and substation electricians, providing hired apprentices with paid, full-time employment during their training [6] Additional Funding - Earlier in the fall, Mon Power received an additional $5 million in federal funding for a project aimed at enhancing electric service reliability in rural West Virginia [7]