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FirstEnergy's Ongoing Efforts to Restore Power After Severe Windstorm

In the wake of a fierce windstorm that struck the Mid-Atlantic region with winds exceeding 70 mph, FirstEnergy Corp. has mobilized its resources to swiftly restore power to its customers. Within just 24 hours, the company managed to restore electricity to nearly 478,000 of the approximately 655,400 customers who lost service as a result of this devastating event. The storm impacted states such as Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland.

Immediate Response and Restoration Efforts

FirstEnergy's electrical service areas in Ohio and western Pennsylvania bore the brunt of the storm's fury, experiencing extensive damage to trees and equipment. In response to these challenges, the company's crews are working continuously, day and night, in addition to support from more than 3,400 external contractors and specialists. The massive scale of the damage has necessitated such comprehensive efforts to restore power as quickly and safely as possible.

Despite the tireless labor, ongoing windy conditions and the extent of tree and road blockages continue to pose obstacles to restoration efforts. FirstEnergy is committed to ensuring that safety is prioritized throughout this process, advising customers to remain cautious and treat all downed or low-hanging power lines as if they are live and dangerous.

Safety Measures

As FirstEnergy crews focus on restoring service, they are also keen to keep the public safe. Customers are reminded to keep at least 30 feet away from any downed power lines and to report such incidents immediately by calling 9-1-1. Additional safety measures include:

• - Not attempting to clear debris from electrical equipment.
• - Keeping generators outside to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning.
• - Avoiding the use of candles for lighting during outages.

Timeline for Restoration

Although significant progress has been made in a short amount of time, the repair timelines are still being assessed as crews continually gauge the situation. It’s estimated that many customers will have their service restored ahead of the expected timelines based on the damage observed in their local areas. FirstEnergy has assured customers that updated restoration times will be made available on their outage maps as assessments continue.

Current Status of Outages

As of the latest update, here’s the current outage status in various service areas:

• - Illuminating Company: 69% of affected customers have their power restored, but around 50,100 are still waiting for service.
• - Ohio Edison: Restoration efforts achieved 77% restoration, leaving 39,800 customers without power.
• - Toledo Edison: 80% of customers’ power has been restored with about 5,800 remaining affected.
• - Penelec: 87% of customers restored, with an additional 11,100 still offline.
• - Penn Power: 56% restoration done, 9,500 waiting.
• - West Penn Power: 55% restored, still seeing 53,000 customers affected.
• - Mon Power: 78% restored, with 6,300 remaining on standby.

Continuing the Restoration Process

FirstEnergy has outlined a formal procedure to restore power following a storm, which includes the following steps:
1. Clearing Immediate Hazards: Removing downed power lines and blocking trees constantly.
2. Repairing High-Voltage Lines: These are essential for delivering electricity to local distributions.
3. Restoring Power to Essential Services: Addressing public facilities is crucial during restoration phases.
4. Addressing Widespread Outages: Prioritizing outages that affect the largest number of customers aims at expedient relief.
5. Fixing Local Issues: Targeted efforts to restore power to individual homes follow larger restorations.

Keeping Customers Informed

To facilitate communication with its customers, FirstEnergy encourages those without power to report outages through various channels:

• - Call at 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877)
• - Text “OUT” to LIGHTS (544487)
• - Report online at firstenergycorp.com/outages

Additionally, customers can sign up for outage text alerts by texting “REG” to 544487 and can check their status by texting “STAT.”

FirstEnergy is dedicated to maintaining its reputation for integrity and safety while providing reliable electrical services to over six million customers across several states. The commitment to uphold operational excellence remains paramount, especially during challenging situations like this recent storm. Customers are encouraged to follow updates via FirstEnergy's website and social media channels @FirstEnergyCorp.