December 19, 2025

A power grid upgrade is underway in southeastern Pennsylvania to enhance electric service for thousands of residents and businesses in Lehigh and Berks counties. The project includes rebuilding a 15-mile stretch of high-voltage power lines and replacing key components at four substations to strengthen the local grid and make outages less common and shorter when they do happen.

“Reliability is at the heart of everything we do,” said Mark Mroczynski, President, Transmission. “This project will help ensure that customers across southeastern Pennsylvania have a stronger, more flexible grid that can minimize outages and handle future growth. We’re building a system that works smarter and lasts longer.”

 Built to Handle What’s Ahead

The Allentown-Lyons-South Hamburg 69-kilovolt (kV) Line Rebuild Project, led by Mid- Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT), a FirstEnergy Transmission company, will replace aging infrastructure with stronger poles and modern wires that can better withstand severe weather, falling trees and other hazards that commonly cause outages.

The rebuilt line will improve the flow of electricity through the system, making it easier to reroute power during emergencies or maintenance. This improvement will also support ongoing growth in southeast Pennsylvania. Construction on the project began in August and is expected to be completed in November 2027.

What This Work Means for Customers

As part of the upgrade, four electric substations will be equipped with new conductors – the thick cables that carry electricity in and out of the facility. It’s like upgrading from a two-lane road to a four-lane highway: more room for traffic, fewer slowdowns and a smoother ride for everyone.

New higher-capacity wires will help the electric system:

• Handle more electricity during high-demand periods, like hot summer or cold winter days.
• Prevent overloads that can lead to outages.
• Restore power faster when problems do occur.
• Support growth in homes, businesses and infrastructure.

Part of a Bigger Investment in Reliability

This approximately $28 million project is part of Energize365, our long-term investment program to modernize the electric grid. FirstEnergy plans to invest $28 billion through Energize365 between 2025 and 2029. The goal: a smarter, more secure grid that meets the needs of today’s customers and tomorrow’s growth.