West Penn Power to complete work on electric delivery reliability enhancement project

West Penn Power recently announced that it is completing work on an approximately $21 million power line and substation projects as part of its targeted 2017 program to reduce power outages in its service area.

Specifically, the work includes enhancing protective devices on wires and poles. rebuilding electric lines, replacing damaged insulators and cross arms, and installing automated and remote control devices.

“The additional projects complement the work we already do each year to enhance the reliability of our electric system,” David McDonald, president of West Penn Power, said. “This year, we are targeting work on higher-voltage distribution lines that interconnect with multiple substations as a way of limiting outages, along with installing equipment that can be operated remotely to help speed the restoration process.”

The enhancements are part of the company’s 2016-2020 Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan, which focuses its efforts on distribution infrastructure enhancement projects in the West Penn Power service area. In total the company expects to spend approximately $88 million on system improvements through 2020.

Scheduled projects in the company’s service area include $3.7 million for the installation of new electronic circuit breakers in key substations, $2.7 million for the installation of new fuses and recliners on overhead lines, $2.4 million for rebuilding portions of 56 distribution circuits, $2 million for the replacement of damaged insulators, and $3.6 million for the installation of remote-controlled switches on higher-voltage distribution circuits.