FirstEnergy Transmission, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. and jointly owned by Brookfield Super‑Core Infrastructure Partners, began construction of the Van Reed 69‑kV Transmission Project in Berks County, Pennsylvania, on February 19, 2026. The project adds a new substation in Bern Township and a nearly four‑mile high‑voltage line that will run on a combination of wood and steel poles.
The $30 million investment will strengthen the grid for more than 6,000 FirstEnergy customers in the Reading area and is expected to reduce outages around Reading, Bern Township and Leesport. Construction started in early January and the line is slated to be in service before the end of 2026.
The project is part of FirstEnergy’s Energize365 program, a $36 billion capital plan that will be deployed through 2030, with roughly $13 billion earmarked for Pennsylvania. The program is designed to modernize transmission and distribution assets, improve reliability, and support regional economic growth.
Mark Mroczynski, President of Transmission for FirstEnergy, said, "With valuable input from community members and public officials, we're delivering a project that reflects their feedback and supports what matters most to the region. This solution enhances service reliability for everyday customers while helping to attract new jobs, new families and new opportunities. We're proud to help carry that momentum forward by investing in the power infrastructure needed to meet today's demand and tomorrow's potential."
By adding the new substation and high‑voltage line, FirstEnergy will increase transmission capacity and resilience across the Mid‑Atlantic region, positioning the company to meet growing demand and to support future expansion of renewable generation and electric vehicle infrastructure.
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