North America | October 28, 2025

FirstEnergy upgrades grid in Ohio

A $28 B initiative includes a new substation and 9-mile 345-kV line in Fulton County to strengthen reliability and support regional development by 2026.

 

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Image for illustrative purposes

USA, Ohio: FirstEnergy and its transmission subsidiary American Transmission Systems, Inc. (ATSI) are leading a major transmission upgrade in Fulton County, Ohio, as part of the company’s $28 B Energize365 programme to modernise the electric grid between 2025 and 2029.

The project includes the construction of a new substation and a 14-km (9-mile) 345-kV transmission line that will enhance service reliability for thousands of residents and businesses in the greater Toledo area. The improvements will support continued economic and industrial growth across northwest Ohio while strengthening system resilience.

The new substation, scheduled to be operational by December 2026, will connect to the existing Sydney substation through two new 800-m (half-mile) power lines. The added infrastructure will boost system capacity and flexibility, allowing for faster restoration when outages occur.

According to FirstEnergy, strategic transmission investments like this one have already led to a 50 % reduction in outages on its high-voltage power lines exceeding 100 kV since 2014.

Mark Mroczynski, president of transmission for FirstEnergy, said the project reflects the company’s commitment to keeping pace with regional development. “Northwest Ohio has seen tremendous industrial growth in recent years, bringing new jobs, families, and opportunities to the region. We are proud to support that momentum by investing in the power infrastructure needed to meet today’s demand and tomorrow’s potential,” he said.

In northwest Ohio alone, ATSI plans to invest more than $200 M in high-voltage grid enhancements over the next several years to build a smarter, more secure system that can support future growth.

Source: T&D World