FirstEnergy Corp. - FE STOCK NEWS

Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE), is employing a helicopter with an aerial saw for tree trimming along six high-voltage transmission lines across Maryland, West Virginia, and Virginia. This initiative began on May 20, 2021, and will continue until mid-July. The program aims to maintain electrical clearances, reducing tree-related power outages, particularly during severe weather. This year, Potomac Edison plans to clear approximately 1,670 miles of lines in Maryland and 1,550 miles in West Virginia as part of a $38 million vegetation management initiative.

On May 21, 2021, Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE), completed its annual storm restoration exercise in preparation for hurricane season. For the first time, the training was conducted virtually due to COVID-19 safety protocols. The drill involved various employee groups and emphasized power restoration during severe weather. Enhancements made from past storms include improved communication and restoration processes. JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers across New Jersey, ensuring emergency preparedness and service reliability.

West Penn Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), conducted its annual emergency drill to test storm restoration processes amidst potential severe weather. The virtual drill aimed to prepare employees for storm management, simulating a powerful storm with tornadoes affecting its service area in Pennsylvania. The exercise identified areas for improvement in business continuity and employee communication during emergencies. Serving approximately 734,000 customers, West Penn Power emphasizes reliability and operational excellence.

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) CEO Steven E. Strah outlined the company's transformation initiatives at the 2021 Annual Meeting, emphasizing strong financial performance and a commitment to enhancing energy infrastructure. The FE Forward initiative aims to automate processes and modernize experiences, targeting over 300 opportunities for improvement. FirstEnergy also aspires to increase employee diversity by 30% by 2025 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Shareholders re-elected 13 directors and approved the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the public accounting firm.

On May 17, 2021, Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), encouraged customers facing financial hardship to contact the utility for payment plans and assistance programs. Various programs are available, including the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Universal Service Fund Programs (USF), and the Lifeline program, among others. These initiatives aim to help customers manage their bills and avoid shut-offs during the ongoing pandemic. JCP&L serves approximately 1.1 million customers in New Jersey.

FirstEnergy's transmission affiliate has successfully rebuilt a 12.8-mile, 69-kilovolt line in Morrow County, Ohio, enhancing service reliability for Ohio Edison customers. This upgrade includes new poles and equipment aimed at increasing capacity and reducing outages. Ongoing substation enhancements will improve power control and flexibility. This project is part of the company's Energizing the Future initiative, focusing on modernizing transmission facilities to mitigate outage risks. Ohio Edison serves over one million customers across 34 counties.

Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed), a FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary, is using a helicopter with an aerial saw for tree trimming along four transmission line corridors in York and Adams Counties, expected to finish by May end. This initiative aims to enhance electrical clearances and reduce tree-related outages during severe weather. The trimming covers 50 miles of high-voltage lines and is part of Met-Ed's $28 million vegetation management program for 2021, which targets 2,000 additional miles. Notably, tree-related outages decreased by 11% in 2020 compared to 2019.

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) has introduced a new service allowing customers to access their electric bill information via Amazon's Alexa and compatible devices. This feature enables quick retrieval of key account details such as billing notifications, due dates, and payment confirmations at no additional cost. Customers must link their FirstEnergy utility account to their Amazon account for usage. The initiative aims to enhance customer convenience and real-time access to data. Future updates will expand functionalities, including usage comparisons and payment capabilities.