Several projects in and around Butler County are part of a $235 million infrastructure improvement campaign planned by West Penn Power this year.

Company executives said the projects are focused on improving its distribution system through automated and remote-control devices, new circuits and utility polls, and protective devices on wires and poles.

“Our goal is to pursue transmission and distribution projects that not only enhance service ... but prepare our system to accommodate future growth,” said David McDonald, president of West Penn Power.

In and around Butler County several projects are scheduled, including:

- Rebuilding a 7.5-mile, 69-kilovolt line connecting a substation near Grove City to a substation near Slippery Rock. The work is to make service more reliable for about 25,000 customers, the company said. It will cost about $14.8 million. Construction could begin in the fall

- Replacing protective relay equipment at a transmission substation near Butler. The equipment monitors conditions on a transmission line connecting the substation with another near Zelienople, and helps protect equipment from damage if an outage occurs. That project will cost about $450,000.

The company also plans to invest millions of dollars in other projects.

The campaign focuses on West Penn Power’s 24-county service area. The company serves about 720,000 customers.