Enhanced Electric Service Coming to Homes and Businesses in Lehigh and Berks Counties

Core Insights - A power grid upgrade is being implemented in southeastern Pennsylvania to enhance electric service for residents and businesses in Lehigh and Berks counties [1] - The project involves rebuilding a 15-mile stretch of high-voltage power lines and upgrading four substations to improve grid reliability and reduce outage duration [1][2] Project Details - The Allentown-Lyons-South Hamburg 69-kilovolt (kV) Line Rebuild Project, led by Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT), aims to replace aging infrastructure with stronger poles and modern wires [2] - Construction began in August 2025 and is expected to be completed by November 2027 [3] Benefits of the Upgrade - The rebuilt line will enhance electricity flow, facilitating power rerouting during emergencies or maintenance [3] - New conductors will be installed at four substations, improving capacity and efficiency, akin to upgrading from a two-lane road to a four-lane highway [4] Financial Commitment - The project is part of a larger $28 million investment under FirstEnergy's Energize365 program, which aims to modernize the electric grid with a total investment of $28 billion from 2025 to 2029 [5] Customer Impact - Met-Ed serves approximately 592,000 customers across 3,300 square miles in eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania, benefiting from the grid improvements [6] - The upgrades will enable the electric system to handle higher demand during peak periods, prevent overloads, and restore power more quickly when outages occur [9]