Pa. regulators approve FirstEnergy's $1.4B grid investment plans

Pennsylvania regulators approved phase three of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Co.'s long-term infrastructure improvement plans.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Dec. 19 signed off on the FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary's plans to invest $1.42 billion over the next five years in the Metropolitan Edison Co., Pennsylvania Electric Co., Pennsylvania Power Co. and West Penn Power Co. service territories.

The third phase of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania's long-term infrastructure investment plans includes several grid modernization and system resiliency projects from 2025–2029, including replacing aging poles, wires and substation equipment along with other distribution system improvements, the company said in a news release.

The investment plans are part of FirstEnergy's $26 billion Energize365 five-year grid improvement program.

"The program will create a smarter, more secure and resilient grid that will meet and exceed reliability targets and accommodate electric vehicles, the electrification of homes and businesses and clean energy sources," FirstEnergy said.

Specifically, FirstEnergy said it will invest $538 million in the Penelec service territory and $382 million in the Met-Ed jurisdiction, with $368 million earmarked for West Penn Power and $133 million to be spent in Penn Power's service area.

FirstEnergy received approval in December 2023 to consolidate its operations in Pennsylvania, combining four electric distribution companies into FirstEnergy Pennsylvania. The consolidation also entailed the separation of FirstEnergy's transmission assets from its distribution utilities.

However, the operating companies are considered separate rate districts until the rate structures can be aligned in a future case.