Protecting birds is nothing new to FirstEnergy. Over the past two years, the company has made great strides enhancing its avian protection efforts, including the implementation of drones to complete bird nest inspections and donation of funds and materials to install nesting platforms in areas where birds nest on electrical equipment. These ongoing efforts continue to help reduce power outages caused by nesting birds.
"Efficiently identifying and responding to bird activity along our power lines is critical to preventing service disruptions and protecting wildlife," said
The app - which was designed exclusively for FirstEnergy by an outside environmental firm - was recently rolled out by FirstEnergy's two electric companies with the highest level of bird activity, the
Disturbing or removing bird nests from electrical equipment and utility poles can be a complicated task due to environmental regulations. If a nest is situated on or near electrical equipment and poses a serious threat to the birds' safety and electric service reliability, FirstEnergy's environmental team works with state wildlife officials to develop a plan or course of action to remove or relocate the nests while protecting the birds.
"Digital reporting through the app allows us to expedite the approval process and documents each case from start to finish so we can access the information for many years to come if needed," said Ruszala.
FirstEnergy is 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
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