Met-Ed Completes Upgrades for Reading Health System Campus

READING, Pa., July 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. FE, recently completed about $2.5 million in electrical upgrades to support the new construction at Reading Health System's West Reading campus.  The work included the installation of a new transformer in a substation near the hospital, two new underground circuits, and the installation of equipment to help ensure the 24-building campus has dedicated backup electrical service.

The electrical work is part of Reading Health's Seventh Avenue Project, which includes a new facility to house surgical and inpatient facilities that previously were spread across five buildings.  The construction project also includes the expansion of existing emergency and trauma care facilities.  Overall, the new and expanded facilities at Reading Health's West Reading campus resulted in an increase of about three megawatts of electrical load for Met-Ed, the equivalent of enough electricity to power approximately 3,000 homes.

"The Reading Health System expansion was extensive and the work we did required cooperation between our planning and operations departments, the hospital, and the surrounding community," said Ed Shuttleworth, Met-Ed regional president.  "We were able to complete the work in a tight timeframe.  Overall, it was a great opportunity for us to help a key customer expand their operations to benefit the community."

Previously, Met-Ed supplied electricity to the hospital and other customers from a nearby substation.  As part of the upgrade project, a new transformer and two new underground circuits were installed at the substation dedicated specifically for Reading Hospital facilities.  The new equipment also provides the hospital with backup electrical capabilities that were not available with the previous system.  The other customers in that area of Reading will continue to be served by the existing substation.

Met-Ed serves approximately 560,000 customers in 15 Pennsylvania counties.  Follow Met-Ed on Twitter @Met Ed and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetEdElectric.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York.  Visit FirstEnergy on the web at www.firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

Editor's Note:  Photos of new equipment installed at the Met-Ed substation serving Reading Health System's West Reading campus are available for download on Flickr.

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