FirstEnergy Wraps Up Inspections To Safe Guard Its Grid
Posted onHotter Weather Causes Grid Concerns
Wondering what those distribution charge increases are going towards? FirstEnergy companies across Ohio have completed their yearly inspections. This included tree trimming and repair work to help protect each utility's local grid. But there are also some important upgrades. Let’s find out what FirstEnergy did when it wrapped up its inspections.
Severe Storms Call For Tree Trimming
One of the primary tools for FirstEnergy to safe guard its grid is to trim back overgrown trees. Damaged and overgrown tree limbs cause nasty damage when they fall onto power lines. You may have seen some of the after effects of tree damage after the tornado in Huron county. Damaged wires on the street present other dangers to people, vehicles, and homes as well. Coming in contact with a high voltage line isn't pleasant; it can be deadly. By removing overgrown branches now, FirstEnergy not only protects power lines, but protection for the public as well.
Grid Safety Goes High Tech
Another challenge for power companies is heat build up on their power lines. Heat builds when electrical resistance builds. Overloaded lines heat up quickly. These can be diagnosed with infrared cameras that see heat on the lines. This way repair crews can find load problems, loose connections, and prevent outages over time due to wear and tear.
Run Of The Mill Safety Repairs
Most importantly, the inspection covered transformers, insulators, and substations. We see these things everywhere and rarely think about them. Transformers step down high voltage used on high tension lines to a lower voltage used in local distribution lines. But over time, they do wear out. So, FirstEnergy crews inspected and repaired or replaced these and any other damaged technology. Making sure these pieces of equipment are ready to perform helps prevent outages when power demand rises. The more power flows through a damaged piece of equipment, the more likely it is to fail. For instance, hot summer evenings at 7pm when you’re trying to get dinner on the table. (Go on, ask me how I know.)
Ongoing Grid Safe Guarding
FirstEnergy has put millions over the last few years into ensuring its grid is running as smoothly as possible. With 8,000 miles of lines to cover in 2024, and more severe storms ahead this summer, tree trimming will continue. Remember, if you see a downed line after a storm, keep away. Call your local utility to repair the line and deal with it safely.
Hopefully with these improvements, there will be fewer problems with your Ohio electricity. Improvements do cost a pretty penny up front. But reliable grid infrastructure can help keep electricity prices down over time. For more information on electricity in your area, head over to www.ohenergyratings.com
