FirstEnergy outlines inspections, bird and tree mitigation after weeks of outages in Barberton

FirstEnergy officials told the Barberton City Council Committee of the Whole on July 7 that the utility is increasing inspections and system work in response to repeated outages affecting parts of the city this spring and summer.

At the meeting, Amy Hopkins, FirstEnergy local engagement specialist, introduced Dan Kanop, manager of reliability and asset management, who laid out actions the company is taking, including drone-based thermal and visual inspections, targeted repairs and a federally constrained plan to mitigate osprey nests that have interfered with lines. "The employees that work throughout the company also live in the communities they serve," Kanop said, noting linemen stationed in Barberton and the company’s broader investment plans.

The company described three principal causes of the recent problems: off‑right‑of‑way trees that cannot be routinely trimmed without landowner permission, nearby osprey nests that are protected and require permits before mitigation work, and storm-related damage. Kanop said…