The $36m project will support the electric demands of the area’s Marcellus shale gas industry and help enhance service reliability for Mon Power’s customers in Doddridge and near by counties.
The project also includes a short transmission line to connect the new substation with an existing 138kV line situated nearby.
FirstEnergy said the substation is also expected to benefit over 6,000 Mon Power customers along the US Route 50 corridor in Doddridge, Harrison and Ritchie counties.
The substation will be connected to MarkWest’s Sherwood processing facility through two, four-mile transmission lines.
FirstEnergy transmission affiliate Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company will build and own the substation, which is anticipated to be completed and operational in December 2014.
Mon Power will own the short transmission line linking to the existing 138-kV line, as well as some metering equipment inside the substation.
FirstEnergy West Virginia operations president Holly Kauffman said: "With the natural gas industry bringing new employment and business development opportunities to the state, FirstEnergy and Mon Power will keep pace by continuing to upgrade our system to meet this growing demand for safe and reliable electric service."
