Upgrades to Maryland substation accommodate rapid regional growth
Potomac Edison is currently undertaking upgrades to a substation near Mt. Airy, Md., as a part of a project that will boost service reliability for approximately 3,400 customers in a high-growth region of its service area.
The project, with a total budget of $2.5 million, will replace two smaller distribution transformers with newer units that will help meet increased demand on the eastern edge of Potomac Edison’s Maryland service area.
“As the eastern portion of our Maryland service area transitions from rural communities to an increasingly suburban setting, our team is working to keep ahead of the rapid growth,” James A. Sears, president of FirstEnergy’s Maryland operations, said. “When the upgrades are completed in early 2017, our substation near Mt. Airy will be well-positioned to handle the area’s electrical needs for years to come. In addition, the ‘smart’ equipment being installed will allow our operators to use real-time data to best manage the distribution system to provide reliable electric service to our customers.”
Work on the upgrade project began earlier this month, when the first of two transformers was delivered to the substation. Potomac Edison anticipates that the unit will be online by the end of the year. The second transformer will be delivered and brought online in early 2017.
