AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy
Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) utilities have sent about 125 linemen,
electrical contractors and support personnel to help restore power
following Hurricane Michael, a powerful storm that caused
destruction in the Florida
panhandle when it made landfall and continues to leave damage
behind as it moves northeast across the southeastern U.S.
This assistance is part of the company's long-standing tradition
of assisting other utility companies with service restoration
following large-scale weather events. Hurricane Michael has
left nearly a million people without power across the south since
Wednesday.
Workers assisting with the storm came from Ohio Edison, Toledo
Edison and The Illuminating Company in Ohio, and Mon Power in West Virginia.
Due to extensive damage throughout the region, assessment and
planning for repair are still taking place. Additional
FirstEnergy crews are prepared to respond if their assistance is
requested. Jersey Central Power & Light and Metropolitan
Edison crews will remain in their service areas for now in case
remnants of the hurricane cause damage in New Jersey or eastern Pennsylvania.
"FirstEnergy employees are committed to helping with the massive
power restoration effort across the region in the wake of this
damaging storm," said Samuel L.
Belcher, senior vice president and president of FirstEnergy
Utilities. "At the same time, we continue to monitor this
storm for its potential impact on our utilities as it tracks
northeast to the east coast and out to sea, and we are confident we
have the personnel in place to maintain reliable operations for our
customers."
FirstEnergy is a member of multiple electric utility
mutual-assistance groups that work cooperatively to restore service
to customers when a natural disaster causes large-scale power
outages. Mutual assistance allows utilities to pool their
resources to help restore power to customers faster. In the
past, FirstEnergy and its employees have been honored by the Edison
Electric Institute (EEI) with its Emergency Assistance Award for
the mutual assistance the company has provided during winter and
summer storms.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational
excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one
of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving
customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, West Virginia,
Maryland and New York. Visit FirstEnergy online at
www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter
@FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.