Mon Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is upgrading a transmission substation near Thomas, W.Va., to help connect a new wind farm to the regional electric grid.  The work also is expected to enhance electric service to Mon Power customers in the area.

The centerpiece of the $2.2 million substation project is installing a new 138-kilovolt (kV) transformer capable of accommodating the output from a new wind farm being built by a developer in nearby Grant County.  Substation transformers enable higher transmission voltages to be changed to lower levels that can be used by customers to power electrical devices

Slated for completion in late November, the upgrade included a new circuit breaker and relay devices, which automatically interrupt the flow of electricity to protect equipment from events such as tree-related outages or lightning strikes.  Transmission dispatchers can remotely monitor conditions at the substation, and if needed, reset the devices automatically to help reduce the duration and number of customers affected if an outage occurs.  

"We work with energy project developers to help efficiently connect their new facilities to the grid, along with supporting existing baseload technology," said Holly Kauffman, president of FirstEnergy's West Virginia operations.  "The substation improvements also will help provide redundancy to enhance service reliability for Mon Power customers in the area." 

Mon Power substation construction crews have completed all foundation work and used a heavy-duty crane to position the new transformer into place on its cement pad.  The new transformer measures about 14 feet long by 8 feet wide by 8 feet tall and weighs about 112,000 pounds.

The operator of the new wind farm in northwestern Grant County will build a new 11-mile long, 138 kV transmission line that will connect to the substation.  

Mon Power serves about 385,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties.  Follow Mon Power at www.mon-power.com, on Twitter @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MonPowerWV.

FirstEnergy | www.firstenergycorp.com