This letter, and other variations thereof, were sent to key political leaders in an attempt to get FirstEnergy’s proposed Stacey transmission line project approved.
Brakey Consulting, through our MICA organization, provides energy management services for 16 manufacturers in Geauga County (see enclosure). These companies provide close to 10,000 high quality jobs and use over 270 million kilowatt hours of electricity on an annual basis. On their behalf, I am writing in support of the new transmission line that FirstEnergy is proposing to build in Geauga County.
Geauga County receives the bulk of its power requirements through four circuits out of FirstEnergy’s Mayfield substation. The circuits that stretch into Middlefield are about thirty miles long, whereas standard circuits are usually no more than 7 miles long. The longer the line, the more susceptible it is to damage, voltage swings and power loss. Continued growth throughout Geauga County and the adjoining counties is overloading these circuits and making it readily apparent that they are becoming inadequate to serve the current and future needs of this region. Customers served by these lines have experienced numerous voltage and outage issues resulting in production losses well into the millions. One of our Middlefield clients documented that they had more than $2.5 million in power quality related losses over the past 12 months.
Our clients have met annually with Illuminating Company representatives about power quality issues for over 10 years. Existing circuits and substations have become overextended because of high usage and growth in recent years. Without this new transmission line, FirstEnergy has indicated that reliable electric service to Geauga County will continue to be a significant challenge. The companies we represent have come to the undeniable conclusion that the Stacy transmission project is essential for long-term economic viability of the region.
While the concerns of residents who live near the potential routes are understandable, we believe the project is necessary and should be built. Due to a 2-year lead time, even if the program is approved early next year, the region will struggle with reliability and power quality issues through the end of the decade. Please do what you can to expedite the approval process.
Sincerely,
Michael W. Brakey
President
