Met-Ed upgrading electric system in Berks County, Pennsylvania

Met-Ed, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., announced Thursday it was upgrading its distribution system in Berks County, Pa.

The company officials said the upgrade will help prevent or minimize service disruptions, especially during severe storms. Upgrading the system will include installing remote-controlled equipment on a power line in Exeter Township to provide flexibility for the local electric network that helps prevent service disruptions and restore power for about 1,100 customers.

“The installation of smart devices that utilize advanced technology will allow our electric system operators to monitor real-time conditions on power lines and remotely control switches to quickly isolate damage and temporarily reconfigure the system, keeping the lights on for customers when our crews must make repairs,” said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy’s Pennsylvania Operations. “This is the latest of several projects we’ve recently undertaken in Exeter Township on both overhead and underground power lines to help enhance electric service for our customers.”

The upgrades are part of the company’s Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan, a five-year, $153 million initiative to invest in the electric distribution system that will ensure the company can continue providing reliable electric service to customers.

The company said crews would be installing the automated devices on a half-mile stretch of power line along Oley Turnpike Road and that the devices would benefit customers in the areas in and around the Farming Ridge and Glen Oley Farms subdivisions. Several poles will be replaced to accommodate the new devices, as will some equipment that regulates voltage on the line. Work is expected to be completed this fall.

Met-Ed currently serves approximately 580,000 customers within 3,300 square miles of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania.