AKRON, Ohio – Nearly 10,000 residents and businesses in rural Trumbull and Ashtabula counties will experience improved electric service next week as a major grid upgrade nears completion in northeastern Ohio.
Construction began in 2023, and American Transmission Systems Inc., a FirstEnergy company, has rebuilt an 11.5-mile high-voltage transmission line to reduce outages and speed up restoration times when service is disrupted, the company said in a news release. The project aims to help keep electricity flowing reliably during events such as severe weather or car accidents.
The project replaces aging infrastructure with stronger poles and thicker wires capable of carrying more electricity. Nearly 140 new steel structures were installed, many anchored in deep concrete foundations to better withstand severe weather and vehicle accidents. This is especially important in open fields, where one fallen pole can knock down others, causing bigger outages, the release states.
The upgraded line will also connect with existing lines, allowing power to be rerouted more easily during outages and minimizing service disruptions.
The nearly $19 million project is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy’s $28 billion investment program to modernize the electric grid between 2025 and 2029.
Pictured at top: Work is completed in Kinsman.