FE Crews Continue Repairs Following Windstorms

Storm damage in The Illuminating Company's service territory.

November 17, 2020

FirstEnergy utility crews have restored service to more than 371,000 customers who lost power after windstorms swept through our entire service area Sunday. Crews are working around the clock to assess damage and restore service to approximately 72,000 customers who remain without power in Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey.

Beginning early Sunday in western Ohio and moving eastward throughout the day, powerful winds between 45-55 mph and gusting up to more than 65 mph brought down tree limbs and caused widespread damage to utility poles and equipment.

“The heavy winds caused thousands of instances of downed wires, broken poles and crossarms, and damaged transformers caused by trees and other debris contacting our electrical equipment,” said Sam Belcher, senior vice president and president of FirstEnergy Utilities. “Though repair work can be slowed by unsafe working conditions and numerous road closures, we will continue to work around the clock to safely make repairs and deploy resources as needed until power to all customers has been restored.”

All available company resources are working to restore power across our 10 utility companies. Support personnel from FirstEnergy’s corporate offices also are included in the company’s contingent.

The companies have coordinated with contractors and electrical industry mutual assistance organizations to secure more than 800 additional resources to assist in the hardest hit areas in Pennsylvania and Ohio.

Current outage updates as of 5 p.m. on Monday included:

  • Toledo Edison: Approximately 15,400 customers lost power due to the storm, and approximately 500 remain without service. The remaining customers are expected to have power restored by 1 p.m. Tuesday.
  • The Illuminating Company: Approximately 96,000 customers lost power due to the storm, and 22,000 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, approximately 74% of affected customers are expected to have power restored by the end of the Monday. Service restoration for the majority of remaining customers is expected by 11 p.m. Wednesday.
  • Ohio Edison: Approximately 116,000 customers lost power due to the storm, and 25,000 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, many customers are expected to have power restored by Wednesday evening; however, the majority of customers in the hardest hit areas are expected to have power restored by 4 p.m. Thursday.
  • Penn Power: Approximately 9,000 customers lost power due to the storm, and 1,000 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, the majority of customers are expected to have power restored by 11:30 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Penelec: Approximately 70,000 customers lost power due to the storm, and 14,500 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, many customers are expected to have power restored by Tuesday evening; however, the majority of customers in the hardest hit areas are expected to have power restored by 11:30 p.m., Wednesday.
  • West Penn Power: Approximately 50,000 customers lost power due to the storm, and 4,300 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, the majority of customers are expected to have power restored by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Met-Ed: Approximately 36,000 customers lost power due to the storm, and 2,000 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, the majority of customers are expected to have power restored by 6 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Mon Power: Approximately 15,500 customers lost power due to the storm, and 700 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, the majority of customers are expected to have power restored by 2 p.m. Tuesday.
  • Potomac Edison: Approximately 11,600 customers lost power due to the storm, and 300 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, the majority of customers are expected to have power restored by Monday at 11 p.m.
  • JCP&L: Approximately 29,000 customers lost power due to the storm, and 1,200 remain without service. Based on current outages and damage assessments, approximately 99% of impacted customers are expected to have power restored by Monday at 11 p.m., with service restoration for the majority of remaining customers expected by 2 p.m. Tuesday.