# DOE Selects $20.2M Pennsylvania Grid Pilot

DOE selected EPRI’s ATREES project for a roughly **$20.2 million** pilot on an existing transmission line between Butler and Karns City, Pennsylvania. The work will test Dynamic Line Ratings and Advanced Power Flow Controllers, with deployment expected to begin in early 2027 and continue over multiple years. Final financial assistance agreements are still pending, and the announcement identifies no open solicitation, so the selection is a potential supplier opportunity rather than an active bid request.

- EPRI is the project lead, with FirstEnergy and Keystone Appalachian Transmission Company participating. The broader ATREES project is valued at $41,704,082, with $20,852,041 in federal funds requested.
- Grid technology, engineering, and transmission suppliers may find opportunities as the pilot advances; contractors should use the pending funding agreements and FirstEnergy or EPRI procurement announcements as the source-grounded indicators of when specific requirements may emerge.
- Deployment is expected to start in early 2027. Businesses should distinguish the selected project from a finalized award or solicitation, since the formal funding agreements remain pending.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Grants & Funding
**Published:** October 28, 2026

### Government Entities
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity (OE)

### Vendors
- Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) (Prime applicant and project lead)
- FirstEnergy (Pilot participant)
- Keystone Appalachian Transmission Company (KATCo) (Pilot participant)

### Key Quotes
> By evaluating technologies that help us get more from the transmission infrastructure already serving our communities, we’re exploring ways to strengthen reliability and meet rising energy demands for many years.
> — John Hawkins, President of FirstEnergy Pennsylvania

### Sources
- [FirstEnergy Unit Joins DOE-Funded $20.2 Million Pennsylvania Grid Pilot – Securities.io](https://www.securities.io/firstenergy-unit-joins-doe-funded-20-2-million-pennsylvania-grid-pilot) - Securities.io