FirstEnergy briefs Rappahannock supervisors on 13.8‑mile Sperryville line rebuild; residents press for local meeting and SCC engagement

Dan Tompkins, director of project engagement and outreach for FirstEnergy, told the Rappahannock County Board of Supervisors on Nov. 3 that the Page/Sperryville transmission project is a 13.8‑mile, condition‑based replacement of an aging 138‑kilovolt line that serves the Sperryville substation. ‘‘This is not a data center project,’’ Tompkins said, adding the company is designing the line to carry 138 kV and must obtain a certificate of public convenience and necessity from the State Corporation Commission before construction could begin.

Why it matters: The line crosses Rappahannock County and national‑park property; residents and multiple supervisors told the company they want more direct local engagement and clearer answers on design and easement impacts. Several speakers asked whether pole heights could nearly double and whether broader rights‑of‑way would be required.

Tompkins outlined the timeline and regulatory steps. He said the company expects to file for the SCC certificate in the first quarter of 2026 and that the SCC process often takes 12–18 months; once filed, the case is assigned to an…