FirstEnergy Pennsylvania (FE PA) has secured approval from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) to commence phase three of its Long-Term Infrastructure Improvement Plan (LTIIP III). This initiative brings nearly $1.5 billion in investments over the next five years to improve reliability across its service areas, including West Penn Power and Penelec.

Building on more than $1 billion in previous upgrades (2016-2024), LTIIP III aims to reduce power interruptions by modernizing and fortifying the grid. Since 2019, completed LTIIP projects have cut annual outage frequency by 14%.

“Over the past nine years, our enhancements to the power grid and proactive tree trimming have yielded positive results,” said John Hawkins, President of Pennsylvania for FirstEnergy. “LTIIP III will further elevate these efforts, integrating automated technology and rebuilding infrastructure to deliver the safe, reliable service our customers deserve.”

The initiative focuses on:

• Grid Modernization: Automated reclosers, voltage regulation, and underground network upgrades.
• System Resiliency: Aging equipment replacement and underground cabling.

Investments by service area include Penelec ($538M), Met-Ed ($382M), West Penn Power ($368M), and Penn Power ($133M). These projects align with ongoing vegetation management efforts.

LTIIP III is part of Energize365, a $26 billion initiative (2024-2028) targeting grid resilience and accommodating clean energy and electric vehicle infrastructure.