American Transmission Systems to update power lines throughout Ohio’s Lorain County

More than 900 insulator assemblies in Lorain County, Ohio will be replaced by American Transmission Systems, Inc. (ATSI) in the coming days, as the company moves to upgrade two high-voltage power lines and improve the regional transmission system.

Each line is approximately 13-14 miles long, and both are 138-kV in nature. All told, the work by the FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary could help prevent or minimize outages for more than 3,600 residents. By targeting insulators, ATSI will update a key piece of infrastructure responsible for separating the transmission lines from grounded support towers.

Work began in late February.

“By installing new, upgraded equipment along these transmission lines, we can help prevent potential power outages and ensure that our transmission system continues to serve customers safely and reliably in the future,” Carl Bridenbaugh, FirstEnergy’s vice president of transmission, said.

The project is part of a multi-year grid evolution program known as Energize365. That FirstEnergy program will include $26 billion of investments by 2028, meant to roll out a smarter, more secure grid capable of exceeding reliability targets and meet the demands of electrification in general and electric vehicles specifically.

ATSI’s share of that project is expected to conclude this August, although this will be followed by the replacement of 18 structures along the same route next year.