Company offers tips for customers to manage
rising temperatures and energy costs
WILLIAMSPORT, Md., June 26,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In anticipation of increased
electric use along with the potential for seasonal storms,
FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Potomac Edison is
completing equipment inspections, preventive maintenance and
tree-trimming work across its Maryland service territory to help reduce
potential outages and improve reliability for customers this
summer.
Don McGettigan, FirstEnergy's
Acting President, Maryland: "Proactive inspections and
maintenance of our lines and equipment are vital to ensuring that
we can continue to deliver safe, reliable power to our customers as
temperatures rise this summer."
Potomac Edison personnel inspected more than 200 substations
earlier this spring and completed needed repairs prior to the
summer. Thermovision cameras were used to capture infrared images
that can reveal potential problems with equipment. By identifying
hot spots, maintenance and repairs can be completed before a power
outage occurs.
Crews also conducted thorough inspections along neighborhood
power lines and focused on hundreds of line capacitors that
maintain proper electric voltage. These devices are especially
useful in remote locations because they automatically adjust
voltage levels to accommodate changing system conditions.
To help minimize the impact of tree-related damage during severe
weather, tree contractors plan to clear vegetation along nearly
1,800 miles of power lines in Maryland this year to help enhance electric
service reliability for customers. They had already completed that
work along 750 miles of power lines this spring.
As part of the company's investment in vegetation management
this year, trees have been inspected and pruned in a manner that
helps preserve the health of the tree while maintaining safe
clearances near electrical equipment. In some cases, trees that
present a danger or are diseased may be removed. Similar work will
be performed along hundreds of miles of the company's high-voltage
transmission power lines in Maryland.
With the summer storm season also comes higher-than-usual
temperatures and rising energy costs. The following tips can help
customers beat the heat while also managing their electric bills
this summer:
- 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 warm
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.
Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in all or parts of
Allegany, Carroll, Frederick, Garrett, Howard, Montgomery and Washington counties in Maryland and about 151,000 customers in the
Eastern Panhandle of West
Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at potomacedison.com, on X,
formerly known as Twitter, @PotomacEdison and on Facebook
at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.
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. Follow FirstEnergy online
at www.firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.