Big Upgrades Coming to Akron's East Side Mean Fewer Outages and Faster Restoration

Core Insights - A major upgrade is being implemented in East Akron to enhance electric service reliability for approximately 12,000 Ohio Edison customers, including Summa Akron City Hospital [1] - The upgrade involves expanding and modernizing a substation to reduce outages and improve restoration times [1][6] Infrastructure Improvements - The substation is expanding from about 142,000 square feet to approximately 176,000 square feet, equivalent to 37 NBA basketball courts [5] - The upgrade includes the installation of gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), which helps manage electricity safely and efficiently, extending equipment life and reducing outage risks [4] Temporary Solutions - A temporary setup known as a "shoo-fly" is being utilized to maintain power flow during construction, allowing for uninterrupted service to customers [2][6] Technological Advancements - New technology will enable the system to automatically detect issues and reroute electricity, minimizing the number of customers affected by outages and speeding up restoration [3] Strategic Investment - This project is part of FirstEnergy's Energize365 initiative, a $28 billion investment program aimed at modernizing the electric grid from 2025 to 2029 [7] - The goal of the initiative is to create a smarter and more secure grid that meets current and future customer needs [7]