Potomac Edison Advances Power Line Upgrades to Strengthen Reliability for Virginia Customers

Project would strengthen the grid while using existing routes to limit community impacts.

FAIRMONT, W.Va., Nov. 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) Company, is seeking approval from the State Corporation Commission of Virginia to move forward with a transmission project designed to meet the energy demands in Virginia and to ensure the continued safe and reliable operation of the transmission system serving Virginia and the surrounding states.

The Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek Improvements Project is an upgrade to Potomac Edison's transmission lines that traverse through West Virginia, Maryland and Virginia that includes the rebuild of approximately 29 miles of 138 kV transmission lines in Frederick, Clarke and Loudoun counties in Virginia. The Project will be located almost entirely within existing power line routes to minimize effects on the environment and nearby communities. Two new 138 kV lines will be constructed between the existing Stonewall Substation and the proposed Woodside Substation in Frederick County.

In each state, Potomac Edison must apply for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN), a permit that confirms the Project is needed and meets relevant statutory requirements. The Company filed its application with the Maryland Public Service Commission in March 2026, filed its application for the Virginia portion of the Project Oct. 30, 2026, with the State Corporation Commission of Virginia, and anticipates filing with the Public Service Commission of West Virginia next month. Pending approvals, construction is planned to start in 2028, with an anticipated in-service date of December 2030 for the Virginia portion of the Project, reflecting the long-term planning required for transmission infrastructure.

"Customers depend on us for reliable, affordable power, and that is exactly why this project matters," stated Chris Beam, FirstEnergy President of West Virginia/Maryland. "This project is a practical way to strengthen the existing grid system for customers today while preparing for the region's future energy needs. By adding new power lines along existing routes, we can improve reliability and increase capacity while limiting impacts on communities."

Project Awarded by PJM to Support Grid

PJM Interconnection, the regional organization that operates the electric grid, awarded the project to Potomac Edison in 2023 after seeking proposals to address system reliability concerns. The Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek Improvements Project will help meet growing power needs by adding new 500-kV lines to existing power line routes. That's like adding extra lanes to an existing highway – more electricity can move at once, especially during high demand periods such as extreme heat or cold.

If approved, the proposed upgrades would:

• Help electricity travel cost-efficiently and quickly to neighborhoods and communities.
• Enhance grid reliability for all customers.
• Help meet increasing electricity use.
• Make it easier to connect new electricity sources, including renewable energy.

Potomac Edison will continue to engage with local communities and stakeholders throughout the review of the Project, which is part of FirstEnergy's $36 billion capital investment plan.

Additional information about the Virginia and West Virginia portions of the Project can be found on Potomac Edison's project page. For more information about the Maryland portion of the Gore-Doubs-Goose Creek Improvements Project, please visit the Maryland project website.

Potomac Edison serves about 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland and about 155,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at www.potomacedison.com, on X @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 more than six million 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 firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.