New Substation Enhances Reliability and Capacity in Northampton County, PA
New Substation Enhances Reliability and Capacity in Northampton County, PA
In August 2025, Northampton County marked a significant milestone with the activation of the Klecknersville Substation, managed by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania Electric Company, popularly known as Met-Ed. Serving over 5,000 residents and businesses in Moore, Lehigh, East Allen, and Upper Nazareth townships, as well as Bath and Chapman boroughs, the new substation is pivotal for meeting the area's growing energy demands.
Built for Growth and Reliability
Previously, electricity for residents in these areas was supplied via long power lines originating from the Northwood Substation in Palmer Township. These lines, spanning 15 to 20 miles, were often vulnerable to weather-related damage and incidents, leading to frequent outages. However, with the new infrastructure, power will now be delivered through shorter, more efficient 5 to 10-mile lines.
According to John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania, the substation's completion took five years and represents a significant improvement for the community. Hawkins noted that this enhancement not only strengthens the power grid for 5,400 Met-Ed customers but also relieves pressure on the Northwood Substation—particularly vital during periods of peak demand, such as the sizzling hot summers the region has faced recently.
Smart Technology for Efficient Operations
The Klecknersville Substation is fitted with advanced smart grid technology, enabling several critical functionalities:
- - Automatic Problem Detection: The system can identify and isolate issues autonomously, minimizing disruptions.
- - Remote Service Restoration: It allows for remote service restoration, reducing the need for field crews.
- - Outage Location Identification: The ability to pinpoint outages accelerates repair times, enabling faster restoration of power.
Such technological advancements will drastically reduce the frequency and duration of outages, ensuring consistent power availability for customers.
Ensuring Extra Protection
To mitigate wildlife-related outages, the substation is equipped with specialized wildlife guards. These measures prevent climbing animals like squirrels from accessing energized equipment, further enhancing reliability.
Part of a Major Investment
The Klecknersville Substation is a vital component of Energize365, FirstEnergy’s extensive $28 billion initiative aimed at modernizing the electric grid from 2025 to 2029. This ambitious program's goal is to develop a smarter, more secure energy system that addresses both present and future customer needs.
With around 592,000 customers spread across 3,300 square miles in eastern and southeastern Pennsylvania, Met-Ed remains committed to delivering reliable energy solutions. The company can be followed on social media platforms such as X and Facebook for updates on services.
FirstEnergy is rooted in principles of safety, integrity, and operational excellence, managing one of the largest investor-owned electric systems in the U.S. Its transmission divisions operate nearly 24,000 miles of lines connecting the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic.
For those seeking a visual understanding of the new substation, FirstEnergy has made available images that can be found on its official photo repository.
In conclusion, the Klecknersville Substation not only embodies technological advancement but also plays a crucial role in the enhancement of energy reliability for the residents of Northampton County, signaling a bright future for local energy infrastructure.
Topics Energy）
【About Using Articles】
You can freely use the title and article content by linking to the page where the article is posted.
※ Images cannot be used.
【About Links】
Links are free to use.