Penn Power inspects equipment, makes repairs ahead of winter

The Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power) said on Monday that it is conducting inspections and completing maintenance projects on weather-sensitive equipment in its service region ahead of winter.

Inspection and maintenance work was focused on heating components that allow substations to operate year-round. The company said it also is ensuring that company vehicles, including snow removal equipment, is winterized and operational.

"Preparing our infrastructure for winter operation helps enhance the reliability of our system," Randall Frame, regional president of Ohio Edison and Penn Power, said. "Coupled with winter maintenance for our vehicles and snow-removal equipment, these efforts help us provide more reliable service to our customers."

The winter season drives up overall usage of energy through increased use of heating systems. The company said that without proper winterization, heavy snow and wind storms can damage substations, poles and transmission wires.

Inspection work necessitated the use of helicopter flyovers to properly inspect transmissions lines and their components, some of which aren't visible from the ground, to identify where repairs or upgrades were needed.

Penn Power is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., serving approximately 160,000 customers in several Pennsylvania counties.