High winds, heavy rain cause power outages
for nearly 578,000 FirstEnergy customers
AKRON,
Ohio, Aug. 7, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Power has
been restored to more than 230,000 of the approximately 578,000
FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) customers who lost service due to
severe storms that swept across northeast Ohio, Pennsylvania and New
Jersey on Monday. With help from more than 4,100 additional
line workers and field personnel from contractors and mutual
assistance organizations, FirstEnergy's electric company personnel
will continue to work around the clock in 16-hour shifts to make
repairs as quickly and safely as possible.
The powerful storm system brought strong winds exceeding 75 mph
in parts of Ohio and western
Pennsylvania, along with rainfall
exceeding two inches in parts of eastern Pennsylvania and New
Jersey. Northeast Ohio was
the hardest hit area, with more than 333,000 out across
Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake
and Lorain counties.
The tree- and flood-related damage is widespread, causing
hundreds of broken poles and crossarms, downed power lines, and
fallen trees and debris blocking road access. Our primary focus at
this stage is to remove any hazards and assess the damage so that
crews can access the site of an outage and begin to safely make the
repairs. Due to the extent of damage, restoration work is expected
to continue over the next few days, particularly in Ohio.
Customers should assume all downed or low-hanging power lines
are energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away and use
extra caution where downed lines are tangled in trees or other
debris. Report downed lines ASAP by calling 911.
All internal line crews, hazard responders, forestry crews,
contractors, safety and other support personnel are involved in
storm response, and significant additional outside resources have
been secured to assist with the restoration effort. Though downed
trees, localized flooding and road closures can slow progress,
crews will continue to work around the clock to safely make repairs
and ensure service to all customers has been restored.
Current outage updates as of 10
a.m. today include:
- The Illuminating Company: Approximately 338,200
customers in northeast Ohio lost
power due to the storms, and 306,000 customers remain without
service, primarily in the hardest-hit areas of Cuyahoga and Lake counties. Restoration times will be
established as soon as possible as damage assessment
progresses.
- Ohio Edison: Approximately 97,400 customers in
northern and eastern Ohio lost
power due to the storm, and 28,500 remain without service.
Restoration times will be established as soon as possible as damage
assessment progresses.
- Penn Power: Approximately 17,800 customers in western
Pennsylvania lost power due to the
storm, and 5,200 remain without service. The hardest-hit area was
Mercer County. The majority of
customers are expected to have power restored by 11 p.m.
tomorrow.
- West Penn Power: Approximately 16,200 customers in
western Pennsylvania lost power
due to the storm, and approximately 1,500 remain without service.
The majority of customers are expected to have power restored by
11 p.m. tonight.
- Penelec: Approximately 12,600 customers in northern
and central Pennsylvania lost
power due to the storm, and about 245 remain without service. The
remaining customers are expected to have power restored by
6 p.m. tonight.
- Met-Ed: Approximately 15,200 customers in eastern
Pennsylvania lost power due to the
storm, and 3,500 remain without service. The majority of customers
are expected to have power restored by 11
p.m. tonight.
- JCP&L: Approximately 44,700 customers in
New Jersey lost power due to the
storm, and about 3,800 remain without service. The majority of
customers are expected to have power restored by 11 p.m. tonight.
How to Report Power Outages and Downed Lines
Customers who have experienced a service interruption due to the
storm are encouraged to report their outage if they have not
already done so by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), texting
OUT to LIGHTS (544487) or clicking the "Outages" link on
firstenergycorp.com.
FirstEnergy customers can sign up to receive email and text
message alert notifications for updates after they've reported a
power outage. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to
report outages, request updates on restoration efforts and make
other inquiries about their electric accounts. More information
about these communication tools is available at
firstenergycorp.com/connect.
For updated information on the company's current outages, the
company's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe,
visit FirstEnergy's 24/7 Power Center at
firstenergycorp.com/outages. To learn more about navigating the
recently updated map, please visit bit.ly/FEoutagemapupdates.
Operate Backup Generators Safely
Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing
or wanting uninterrupted service. To ensure the safety of the
home's occupants as well as that of electric company employees who
may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator
should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician.
When operating a generator, the power coming into the home
should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator
could be sent back onto the power lines, creating a hazardous
situation for company workers. Locate the generator outside of your
home and far away from windows, doors and vents. Never locate a
generator inside your home.
View additional generator safety information.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its 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. The company's
transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of
transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic
regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and
follow FirstEnergy and its operating companies on X, formerly known
as Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp, @ToledoEdison, @IlluminatingCo,
@OhioEdison, @MonPowerWV, @JCP_L, @Penn_Power, @Penelec, @Met_Ed,
@PotomacEdison, @W_Penn_Power.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.