Potomac Edison begins construction on new substation in Maryland

Potomac Edison started construction on a new substation in Jefferson, Md., that will improve reliability for customers in Frederick County.

The substation will be located on more than nine rural acres on Burgee Drive in Jefferson, just south of U.S. 340. It will serve some 4,300 customers in the Brunswick, Jefferson, and Petersville areas of Frederick County.

The substation will tap into an existing overhead transmission line, limiting the need for additional construction. It will convert 230-kilovolt, high-voltage power to 34.5-kilovolt power that will then be distributed to the local system. The substation is expected to be in operation in early 2023.

“With the demand for power rising in Frederick County due to continued growth, this new substation will increase the capacity of our distribution system and help reduce extended outages for thousands of customers we serve,” said Linda Moss, president of FirstEnergy’s Maryland operations. Potomac Edison is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp.

Last year, Potomac Edison completed two new distribution automation projects in Carroll and Garrett counties and installed 13 new substation reclosers in Frederick and Garrett counties to help reduce service interruptions. Further, the company is replacing approximately 50 miles of underground electrical cable across its Maryland service territory each year.

Potomac Edison serves about 275,000 customers in Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery, and Washington counties in Maryland and roughly 151,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.