COLUMBUS, Ohio — FirstEnergy says it will invest nearly $800 million to upgrade power grid equipment in Ohio.
The utility plans to spend about $294 million building a new substation in Clark County, where two major power lines meet. The project also includes replacing breakers and upgrading high-voltage lines in several northern Ohio counties.
FirstEnergy is also investing about $490 million through Grid Growth Ventures, a joint venture with Transource Energy. That project includes nearly 200 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines meant to support growth in the Columbus region.
FirstEnergy says the upgrades will help move electricity more easily across the grid and reduce the risk of outages.
“We want every family, business and community in our service area to feel confident that our power system is ready for the future,” said Mark Mroczynski, the president of transmission at FirstEnergy. “These improvements will help ensure the grid keeps up with growing communities and the everyday moments people count on electricity for.”
At the same time, the company is asking Ohio regulators for permission to loosen reliability standards for its electric utilities.
FirstEnergy wants the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to grant it more time to restore power after outages and to allow more outages per year than current standards permit.
In regulatory filings, the company said its reliability performance has worsened since 2019, making it harder to meet the current targets.
But cities like Cleveland, Barberton and Lakewood are urging the state to reject FirstEnergy’s request.
“Lowering reliability standards because a company has struggled to meet them sends the wrong message,” Rep. Sean Brennan, a Parma Democrat, said on Tuesday. “Ohioans have invested heavily in grid improvements. They deserve accountability and measurable results – not a reduced standard.”
FirstEnergy plans $800 million in Ohio grid upgrades as power demand rises
