FirstEnergy Corp. has been selected by the Department of Energy to begin award negotiations for up to $5 million in federal funding for a project that will boost electric reliability for customers in parts of rural West Virginia. The funding is part of the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The funding would be applied to help rebuild more than 23 miles of power lines in Pocahontas, Braxton and Clay counties and connect a two-mile tie line with a substation in Petersburg, Grant County, resulting in enhanced reliability for more than 3,000 customers. The work would enable Mon Power and FirstEnergy subsidiary Potomac Edison, which also serves West Virginia, to restore service to customers faster by connecting them to adjacent circuits, providing those customers with a backup power feed while repairs are made during an outage. If the funding is approved, Mon Power would expect to start construction on the project in 2025.

Company representatives have engaged with more than 560 city, county, state and nonprofit agencies about the proposal over the past year, providing updates and incorporating community feedback into Mon Power's plans. Mon Power also plans to partner with community-based organizations, labor unions and educational institutions in the affected counties to address workforce disparity gaps for historically under-resourced communities.