Crews Working 24/7 to Restore Power to FirstEnergy Customers Following Severe Thunderstorms (2024)

AKRON, Ohio,Aug. 7, 2024 -- 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 11p.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 onfirstenergycorp.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 atfirstenergycorp.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 atfirstenergycorp.com/outages. To learn more about navigating the recently updated map, please visitbit.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 additionalgenerator 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.

News Media Contact: Hannah Catlett – Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison, The Illuminating Company, (440) 554-5346; ToddMeyers – West Penn Power, Penelec, Met-Ed, Penn Power,(724) 838-6650;Chris Hoenig – JCP&L, (609) 350-8599

Crews Working 24/7 to Restore Power to FirstEnergy Customers Following Severe Thunderstorms (2024)

FAQs

Who took over FirstEnergy? ›

John Somerhalder served as interim CEO of FirstEnergy between September 17, 2022 and June 1, 2023. On March 27, 2023, FirstEnergy Corp. announced Brian X. Tierney, a former executive at American Electric Power, as President and CEO of FirstEnergy Corp.

Why does power go out after a storm? ›

Why does power go out in a thunderstorm? It's a combination of lightning in the thunderstorm hitting parts of the power system and thunderstorms producing a lot of wind. This wind not only damages the system directly but blows things like trees, tree limbs and occasionly other things into the wires.

Is FirstEnergy being sold? ›

(NYSE: FE) announced today it has completed the previously disclosed sale of an additional 30% ownership interest in its FirstEnergy Transmission, LLC (FET) subsidiary to Brookfield Super-Core Infrastructure Partners (Brookfield) for $3.5 billion.

What is the debt of FirstEnergy? ›

FirstEnergy long term debt for the quarter ending March 31, 2024 was $21.652B, a 2.13% decline year-over-year. FirstEnergy long term debt for 2023 was $22.885B, a 7.93% increase from 2022. FirstEnergy long term debt for 2022 was $21.203B, a 4.7% decline from 2021.

How fast does power come back after a storm? ›

Utility workers can fix a minor incident, such as a fallen power line, in around 2-3 hours. But when the cause of a blackout is severe weather or a natural disaster, you can expect to be out for several days and even months in some extreme cases.

Why does my power go out during thunderstorms? ›

Utility poles, wires, transformers and other electrical equipment are easy targets for lightning strikes, causing severe damage and loss of power. Lightning also frequently strikes trees causing tree limbs or even large trees to fall onto utility lines.

Should I unplug my refrigerator during a power outage? ›

Televisions, computer equipment, game consoles, fans, lights and all other smaller appliances should be unplugged, especially if they were in use when the power went out. Larger appliances, such as refrigerators, should not be unplugged.

Are Ohio Edison and FirstEnergy the same company? ›

was formed in 1997 through the merger of Ohio Edison Company and Centerior Energy Corporation. Through this merger, FirstEnergy became the holding company for Ohio Edison and its Pennsylvania Power Company subsidiary, as well as The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company and The Toledo Edison Company.

Are Met.Ed. and FirstEnergy the same company? ›

GREENSBURG, Pennsylvania – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PaPUC) has approved the consolidation of FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) Pennsylvania electric distribution subsidiaries – Met-Ed, Penelec, Penn Power and West Penn Power – into a single operating company with a continued focus on delivering safe, ...

Who is the transfer agent for FirstEnergy? ›

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC (AST) is the Transfer Agent, Dividend Paying Agent, Stock Investment Plan Administrator, and Shareholder Records Agent for FirstEnergy Corp.

Who owns Potomac Edison? ›

Akron, Ohio-based FirstEnergy is the owner of Potomac Edison, the electric utility serving Western Maryland.

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