FirstEnergy Utilities Continue Round-the-Clock Restoration Efforts for Customers Affected by Hurricane Sandy

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) utilities have restored service to more than 820,000 of the 2.2 million customers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, and Maryland that were impacted by devastating Hurricane Sandy, which swept through the region early this week. 

More than 14,100 linemen, hazard responders, forestry workers, call center representatives, management and support personnel are currently working around the clock to restore service to affected customers.  The workforce includes approximately 11,200 from all 10 FirstEnergy utilities and support groups and nearly 2,900 contractors and other utility company personnel.  Additional resources are expected as they become available.

As of 6 p.m. today, current outages and estimated restoration times, where available, are as follows:

• Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L):  Approximately 940,000 JCP&L customers remain without power following Hurricane Sandy.  At the peak, more than 1 million of JCP&L's 1.1 million customers were without power.  Customers experienced more than 1.2 million interruptions as many customers who initially had power restored experienced multiple service interruptions.  The majority of customers will be restored in the next seven days.  Customers in the hardest-hit areas are expected to be restored in an additional seven days.  Remaining customers will be restored once damaged roads, infrastructure and homes are rebuilt. 

• Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed):  Approximately 117,000 of 268,000 Met-Ed customers impacted by the storm remain without power.  Restoration efforts are nearing completion today in the York area.  Ninety-five percent of Met-Ed's customers are expected to be restored by this weekend, with the remainder restored early next week.

• The Illuminating Company (CEI):  Approximately 156,000 of 314,000 affected customers remain without power.  FirstEnergy employees and contract personnel are working around the clock to restore service to customers, and additional crews from Toledo Edison and linemen from outside utilities are assisting with these efforts.  Estimated restoration times are being developed. 

• Ohio Edison:  Approximately 3,300 out of 125,000 Ohio Edison customers remain without power.  The majority of customers in Erie, Ottawa, Huron and Medina counties are expected to have service restored by midnight Thursday, while the majority of customers in Lorain County are expected to be restored by noon Friday.  Ohio Edison customers in all other areas will be restored by midnight tonight. 

• Mon Power:  Approximately 105,000 of 181,000 affected customers remain without power.  A blanket of heavy, wet snow, along with high winds, downed trees and created accessibility challenges, complicating assessment and restoration efforts.  The majority of affected Mon Power customers are expected to be restored by early next week, though for some customers in remote areas, full restoration may not occur until the middle of next week.

• Potomac Edison:  Approximately 47,000 of 142,000 affected Potomac customers in Maryland, West Virginia and Pennsylvania remain without power. The majority of West Virginia customers are expected to be restored by midnight Friday.  Maryland customers will be restored by early evening Saturday, with the exception of the hardest hit area of Garrett County, which requires further assessment.  Pennsylvania customers should be restored by midnight Saturday.  

• Penelec:  Approximately 4,000 of the 100,000 Penelec customers affected remain without power.  The company estimates that the majority of affected customers in the Erie, Oil City, Johnstown, Lewistown and Clearfield areas will be restored around midnight tonight.  The majority of customers in Altoona, Mansfield and Towanda are expected to be restored by midnight Thursday.

FirstEnergy's restoration process is designed to restore power safely and efficiently for affected customers.  The priority for restoration starts with emergency services, including hospitals, police, fire and first aid.  Priority is also given to circuits serving the largest number of customers, followed by restoration of service to individual homes. 

Customers without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the "Report Outage" link on www.firstenergycorp.com.  In addition, customers should immediately report downed wires to their electric company or local police or fire department.  Never go near a downed power line, even if you think it's no longer carrying electricity, and don't try to remove trees or tree limbs from power lines.  Wait for utility crews to arrive.

For updated information on the company's current outages, FirstEnergy's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.  JCP&L customers can find the latest information on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL.  FirstEnergy operating companies will also provide updates via Twitter:

• JCP&L: @JCP_L
• Penelec: @Penelec
• Met-Ed: @Met_Ed
• West Penn Power: @W_Penn_Power
• Penn Power: @Penn_Power
• Potomac Edison: @PotomacEdison
• Mon Power: @MonPowerWV
• Ohio Edison: @OhioEdison
• The Illuminating Company: @IlluminatingCo
• Toledo Edison: @ToledoEdison

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company 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 Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia.  Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, hydro, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables.  Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy