First Energy is upgrading their transmission equipment. 

They will be using helicopters and ground crews to replace more than 550 insulators and attachments along a 35-mile section of a transmission line that runs through Mahoning, Columbiana and Jefferson counties in northeast Ohio.

The highly visible work will help ensure the regional electric grid remains reliable and resilient.

The 138-kilovolt transmission line runs south from a substation in Boardman Township to a substation in Stratton and traverses Beaver, Fairfield, Elkrun, Madison, Yellow Creek and Saline townships.

Insulators separate high-voltage transmission lines from their grounded support towers and help maintain safe, consistent delivery of power.

Crews from Ohio Edison, a First Energy subsidiary, will perform a 10-mile portion of the insulator replacement work between Boardman Township and the Columbiana County line, while the balance of the replacements will be handled by a contractor that carries line workers to the top of the transmission towers via helicopter.

The helicopter will also lower the new materials for the assembly and carry the old materials away.

The project is part of Energizing the Future, a multi-year initiative designed to upgrade First Energy's transmission system with advanced equipment and technologies that will reinforce the power grid and help reduce the frequency and duration of customer outages.

Since 2014, FirstEnergy has upgraded or replaced existing power lines, incorporated smart technology into the grid and upgraded dozens of substations with new equipment and enhanced security features.

“By installing new, upgraded equipment along this high-voltage line, we can help prevent potential power outages and ensure that our transmission system continues to serve customers safely and reliably in the future,” said Carl Bridenbaugh, First Energy's vice president of Transmission.