FirstEnergy starts Van Reed 69-kV project to boost Berks County grid reliability

FirstEnergy begins major Berks County transmission upgrade

Van Reed 69-kV project strengthens central Berks reliability

FirstEnergy Transmission’s Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission LLC (MAIT), supported by FirstEnergy Pennsylvania (FE PA), is building the Van Reed 69-kilovolt transmission project in Berks County to bolster grid reliability and support local economic growth. The work includes a new substation in Bern Township and nearly four miles of 69-kV line on a mix of wood and steel poles, designed to add resilience to storms and capacity for extreme cold and heat for more than 6,000 FE PA customers.

Construction, which begins in early January, is on track to place the upgrade in service before the end of the year. Company officials say the addition shortens restoration times and reduces the frequency and duration of outages around Reading, Bern Township and Leesport by increasing capacity to meet peak loads and enabling faster rerouting during outages. The project follows nearly a decade of planning and aims to provide dependable infrastructure to support current demand and future development.

FirstEnergy Transmission’s president of transmission, Mark Mroczynski, says community and public-official input shapes the final design, balancing operational needs, permitting and construction considerations. MAIT and FE PA coordinate operational requirements and transmission expertise to minimize customer impacts during construction and to ensure the new assets support faster restoration and greater system resilience under extreme weather conditions.

Local backing and economic implications

Berks County commissioners and local development agencies back the project, viewing it as a means to attract employers, families and investment to southeastern Pennsylvania. Company representatives stress the upgrade helps developers and employers plan expansions with more confidence by increasing available capacity and reducing the risk of prolonged interruptions.

Permitting, community input and construction sequencing remain focal points as crews complete the remaining work. FirstEnergy frames the investment as part of a broader industry trend of targeted transmission upgrades that aim to harden distribution and transmission systems against climate-driven weather extremes while supporting regional growth.