Big Reliability Boost Coming to Adams County

READING, Pa., Aug. 27, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A major reliability project is underway in Adams County, Pennsylvania, to deliver stronger, more resilient electric service to nearly 2,300 residents and businesses, including Hanover Hospital, Alpha Fire Company and WellSpan Health.

The East Germantown-Germantown Reliability Project, led by Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT), a FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) company, includes a new substation and a 115-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that will enhance service reliability and support future growth in Adams County. This area is served by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, known locally as Met-Ed.

Smart Grid, Stronger Service

The new East Germantown Substation is scheduled to be built and energized by the end of March 2026. It will connect to the existing Germantown Substation via a newly constructed high voltage power line supported primarily by wood poles and steel structures where needed.

Once complete, the project will provide an additional source of electricity to the area, improve operational flexibility and expand switching capabilities – allowing for faster restoration by rerouting electricity more easily during outages.

John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania: "Earlier this summer, we saw how high temperatures and increased demand can strain the system and lead to outages. By adding a second power source and improving switching capabilities, we're building a stronger grid that can better handle peak loads and reduce the frequency and duration of outages."

Why this Project Matters to You:

If you live in southern Adams County, this project is all about helping to keep your lights on, especially when demand is high like during heat waves or storms. If you do experience an outage, this upgrade adds a second power source and smarter equipment that can reroute electricity when something goes wrong. That means:

• Fewer outages.
• Faster restoration.
• More reliable service for homes, hospitals and first responders.

It's like adding a backup generator to your neighborhood, but on a much larger scale. It's built to grow with the community, so as more homes and businesses come online, the system can keep up.

The transmission line route was carefully studied to minimize impacts to environmentally sensitive areas, property owners and local communities. Vegetation restoration and environmental work will continue into 2026 as part of the final stages of the project.

Part of a Bigger Plan

This work is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's $28 billion investment program to modernize the electric grid between 2025 and 2029. The goal: a smarter, more secure grid that meets the needs of today's customers and tomorrow's growth.

Met-Ed serves approximately 592,000 customers within 3,300 square miles of eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania. Follow Met-Ed on X @Met Ed and on Facebook at facebook.com/MetEdElectric. 

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp. 

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.