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Restoration Efforts Underway for FirstEnergy Customers

Following recent severe thunderstorms that swept through the regions served by FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), a significant number of customers are left without power. Approximately 385,000 customers experienced outages due to extreme weather conditions, including heavy rain and winds reaching speeds of over 70 mph. Fortunately, power has already been restored to around 156,000 individuals, and efforts are ongoing to get everyone back online.

The Impact of the Storm

The storm wreaked havoc in areas across Pennsylvania and West Virginia, with the western and central parts of Pennsylvania being particularly affected. Crews have been encountering extensive damage, including downed trees, broken poles, and disrupted power lines. As a result, restoration activities are expected to last several days, particularly in Pennsylvania where the damage is most severe.

FirstEnergy is taking swift action to address this situation. It has deployed more than 2,000 lineworkers and various support crews from both internal resources and external partners, including mutual aid organizations. This combined workforce totals over 3,400 individuals committed to restoring power to all affected customers effectively and safely.

Safety First

Customers are urged to remain cautious and treat all downed or hanging power lines as if they are energized. Residents are advised to maintain a distance of at least 30 feet from any downed lines and to report any incidents immediately by contacting emergency services. The safety of the customers and the crews is paramount during these restoration efforts.

Current Outage Status

As of the latest updates, here is the status of reported outages:

• - West Penn Power service area: Approximately 143,000 customers out of 214,000 remain without power.
• - Penelec service area: 48,000 of 113,000 customers are still affected.
• - Penn Power service area: Out of about 15,600 customers, around 3,800 remain without service.
• - Mon Power service area: Approximately 16,500 of the 34,000 affected customers still lack electricity, with Weirton being particularly hard-hit.

FirstEnergy is continuously reassessing and prioritizing repairs based on the extent of the damage. Their restoration process focuses first on addressing issues that impact the largest number of customers; then they move onto more isolated cases.

Communication and Updates

As crews progress, estimated restoration times (ETRs) will be made available. These times will evolve based on the current evaluations of damage control. Customers can also opt for real-time updates by texting 'STAT' to 544487. For those who haven't registered for text updates yet, they can do so by sending 'REG' first.

The company emphasizes that restoration begins with critical facilities like hospitals and emergency services before addressing individual homes. Many issues require field teams to visit affected locations, especially for service drops that deliver electricity to homes, which are typically damaged by fallen trees.

For the most current information and safety tips regarding power outages and restoration processes, customers can visit FirstEnergy's 24/7 Power Center online. The commitment FirstEnergy shows demonstrates their dedication to service reliability and operational excellence, ensuring that they respond efficiently to outages and restore power safely.

FirstEnergy operates a vast network across several states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York, with a significant presence in the energy distribution sector. Their resources are aimed at ensuring stability and reliability for customers at all times. Updates on their restoration efforts can be accessed through social media or their official website.