Inspection and Maintenance Work Nears Completion to Enhance Service Reliability in Penn Power's Service Area for Customers Through Summer Season
Company offers tips for customers to manage rising temperatures and energy costs
Substation electricians use thermovision cameras during summer-readiness inspections to capture infrared images, helping to detect potential problems within substations and on power lines that cannot be observed during regular visual inspections. These images can identify equipment issues such as loose connections, corrosion and load imbalances, and utility workers are able to make repairs to prevent potential power outages in the future.
Watch a video on the company's YouTube channel of utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection.
In addition, helicopter patrols have completed inspections of more than 300 miles of power lines owned by
Since the beginning of the year, tree contractors have trimmed along 400 miles of power lines as part of FirstEnergy's vegetation management program in the
Trees are being trimmed in these counties and communities:
-
Allegheny –Warrendale ,Wexford -
Beaver –Beaver Falls -
Butler –Cranberry Township ,Mars ,Zelienople -
Crawford –Conneaut Lake ,Hartstown -
Lawrence –Ellwood City ,New Castle ,New Wilmington ,Pulaski ,Wampum -
Mercer –Greenville ,Jamestown ,West Middlesex ,Wheatland
In addition to equipment inspections and maintenance, Penn Power recently conducted storm-readiness exercises and drills to test the restoration process used to repair storm-related power outages. Storm drills are becoming more common in the utility industry in the wake of severe weather over the last several years.
With the summer storm season also comes higher-than-usual temperatures and rising energy costs. Customers can take steps to beat the heat while also managing their electricity bill this summer. The following tips can help customers use electricity wisely during this period of high demand:
- Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow.
- Use fans – moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.
- During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatures.
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat to keep temperatures higher when no one is home and to reduce the temperature before arrival back home.
- Seal any leaks with caulk or weather stripping to prevent hot air from sneaking into your home.
- Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.
- Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air conditioner must do.
- Payment arrangements and assistance programs are available for customers who need help with their electric bills. For more information, visit firstenergycorp.com/billassist.
Penn Power serves approximately 173,000 customers in all or parts of
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
Editor's Note: Photos of workers conducting thermovision inspections to enhance service reliability for FirstEnergy customers are available for download on Flickr.
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