Note: We received clarification about the timing and severity of the power outage referenced in the PSC documentation.
Christopher Hoenig, Senior Communication Representative for First Energy Corp tells the Panhandle News Network “We have been in regular contact with CMC Metals throughout the planning and construction process. They may experience a brief outage to allow for final connection. No other customers will be affected by outages associated with this work.”
BEDINGTON, W.Va. — An $18.4 million project aimed at expanding power capacity to support one of Berkeley County’s newest manufacturers could start as soon as January and could result in some power disruptions to the plant. A spokesperson for First Energy Corp reached out to the Panhandle News Network following the publishing of this article to say while there may be a brief outage at CMC Metals during the final connection, “No other customers will be affected by outages associated with this work.”
(West Virginia Public Service Commission)
The West Virginia Public Service Commission this week released details regarding a major power line expansion in the Bedington Area to support the new Commercial Metals Company operation.
The Bedington-Marlowe 138 kV Transmission Line Loop to Cannon Hill Switching Station Project would include a switching station located approximately 1.5 miles south/southeast of Falling Waters and approximately 1 mile west of the West Virginia/Maryland border in Berkeley County.
As part of this Project, the existing Bedington-Marlowe 138 kV Transmission Line will be looped to extend 138 kV transmission service to the Cannon Hill Switching Station (owned by Potomac Edison) which in turn will provide service to CMC Substation.
The transmission protection and line extension project has been in development since 2023 as a concept among the customers and the electricity providers.
The Cannon Hill Switching Station will be constructed adjacent to the existing Bedington-Cannon Hill 138 kV Transmission Line currently feeding the CMC Substation and the Cannon Hill-Marlowe 138 kV Transmission
Line.
The new switching station will be fed via a looped connection between existing Structure #90 on the Bedington-Cannon Hill 138 kV Transmission Line and existing Structure #93 on the Cannon Hill-Marlowe 138 kV Transmission Line. CMC owns the property where the switching station will be located and the loop will be installed on the customer property within the mutually agreed upon right-of-way.
Construction of the proposed Project is anticipated to begin on or about January19, 2026, with the proposed in-service date for the operation of the Project on or about July 15, 2026.
A 7-day outage will be needed on or about May 26, 2026 according to the documents from the state PSC, but First Energy Corp says the outage will be brief and only affect the plant and not the community around it.
The estimated total cost of the Project is approximately $18,442,000 with the Customer responsible for approximately $2,521,000 and Potomac Edison responsible for approximately $15,921,000. Of that cost, approximately $252,000 is associated with transmission line scope with the remaining $15,669,000 attributed to the new 138 kV switching station and other terminal end upgrades.
The estimated cost of the Project will be funded by Potomac Edison in accordance with the Line Extension Plan in the Potomac Edison West Virginia Retail Tariff.
As part of the expansion, the PSC reports the following upgrades:
— Construction of the 138 kV Cannon Hill Switching Station; |
— Modification of three (3) existing single circuit steel monopole vertical tap |
structures (#90, #91, and #93);
— Modification and abandonment of one (1) existing single circuit steel vertical angle
structure (#90A); |
— Removal of approximately 315 feet of existing conductor and shield wire between
existing structures #90 and #91 on the Bedington-Cannon Hill 138 kV
Transmission Line; .
— Installation of approximately 110 feet of 556.5 KCMIL (26/7) “Dove” ACSR
conductor and 7#6 Alumoweld shield wire from existing Structure #93 to the
Cannon Hill Switching Station Terminal-1 on the Cannon Hill-Marlowe 138 kV |
Transmission Line; |
— Installation of approximately 90 feet of 556.5 KCMIL (26/7) “Dove” ACSR
conductor and 7#6 Alumoweld shield wire from existing Structure #90 to the |
Cannon Hill Switching Station Terminal-2 on the Bedington-Cannon Hill 138 kV
Transmission Line;
— Installation of approximately 60 feet of 556.5 KCMIL (26/7) “Dove” ACSR
conductor and 7#6 Alumoweld shield wire installed from existing Structure #91 to
the Cannon Hill Substation Terminal-3;
— Replace two circuit breakers and line relaying at Bedington Substation; and
— Replace one 138 kV breaker and line relaying at Marlowe Substation.
The PSC released details about the power line expansion this week.
