Columbia County Reliability Projects
PPL Electric UtilitiesColumbia County Reliability
We’re doing work across Columbia County to make our grid stronger, smarter and more resilient.
Below is a look at the type of work we’re doing across Columbia County. Those projects include:
- Upgrading substations with new and improved equipment.
- Installing smart grid devices to improve our ability to restore power remotely.
- Relocating power lines in nine areas to reduce the risk of tree-caused outages and make the lines more accessible for repairs.
- Adding tie lines, backup power sources to speed up restoration when outages occur.
- Moving three sections overhead power lines underground to reduce the risk for outages.
- Doing routine tree trimming maintenance across the county.
Strengthening Our System
Completed in 2024-25
- Upgraded nine substations with new and improved equipment.
- Relocated power lines in nine areas to reduce the risk of tree-caused outages and make the lines more accessible for repairs.
Planned work in 2025-26
- Upgrading 15 substations with new and improved equipment.
- Replacing 12-plus miles of power lines and poles with stronger, more resilient lines and poles.
Expanding Grid Automation
Completed in 2024-25
- Installed 12 smart grid devices to improve our ability to restore power remotely.
- Installed 28 early fault detection devices that can predict problems along power lines before they occur.
Planned work in 2025-26
- Installed 35 more smart grid de-vices to improve our ability to restore power remotely.
- Installing an additional early fault detection devices that can predict problems along power lines be-fore they occur.
Tree Trimming Maintenance
Completed in 2024-25
- Trimmed trees and limbs along 163 miles of power lines to re-duce outages.
- Removed 2,500 trees identified as outage-causing risks.
Planned work in 2025-26
- Trim trees and limbs along 686 miles of power lines.