Thousands of Personnel Engaged in FirstEnergy's Power Restoration Effort in Northeast Ohio

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is engaged in a massive power restoration effort in Northeast Ohio following a historic storm that included two tornados. The company has restored power to over 215,000 customers, with 265,000 still affected. More than 3,050 line workers and 1,000 support personnel are working around the clock in 16-hour shifts to repair damages.

The storm, which hit on Tuesday, was the most impactful to hit The Illuminating Company service territory since July 1993. FirstEnergy is setting up staging sites across the Cleveland area to handle the influx of workers and make the restoration process more efficient. The company expects power to be restored to the majority of customers by 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14, with some hard-hit areas potentially waiting until Saturday.

Positive

• Rapid response with over 3,050 line workers and 1,000 support personnel deployed
• Power already restored to 215,000 customers
• Setting up efficient staging sites to handle influx of workers
• Clear restoration timeline provided for majority of customers

Negative

• 265,000 customers still without power
• Some areas may be without power until Saturday
• Extensive damage with hundreds to thousands of damage locations recorded
• Most impactful storm since 1993, indicating potential for significant repair costs

Insights

Utility Infrastructure Analyst

This severe weather event and its impact on FirstEnergy's (NYSE: FE) infrastructure is significant. The scale of the outages, affecting over 429,500 customers, is the most substantial since 1993. The company's response, mobilizing 3,050 line workers and 1,000 support personnel, demonstrates the magnitude of the restoration effort.

The extended restoration timeline, with some areas potentially without power until August 14th, could lead to customer dissatisfaction and potential regulatory scrutiny. However, FirstEnergy's transparent communication and detailed restoration process may mitigate some reputational risks. The financial impact on FE will likely be material, considering the extensive damage and resources deployed, potentially affecting short-term earnings.

Emergency Management Specialist

FirstEnergy's response to this crisis showcases robust emergency preparedness. The rapid mobilization of resources, including setting up staging sites and bringing in mutual assistance, indicates a well-executed disaster response plan. The company's prioritization of critical facilities and transparent communication of Estimated Time of Restoration (ETR) aligns with best practices in emergency management.

However, the extended outage duration for some customers poses significant public safety concerns, particularly regarding vulnerable populations. The emphasis on generator safety is important but may not fully mitigate risks associated with prolonged power loss. Local authorities and FirstEnergy must collaborate closely to address potential secondary emergencies arising from this extended outage situation.

Financial Analyst

While the full financial impact isn't quantified, this event will likely have a material short-term effect on FirstEnergy's (NYSE: FE) financials. The extensive damage and large-scale restoration effort will incur significant costs, potentially impacting Q3 2024 earnings. However, regulatory mechanisms often allow utilities to recover storm-related costs over time, mitigating long-term financial impacts.

Investors should monitor for any announcements regarding estimated restoration costs and potential regulatory filings for cost recovery. The company's ability to efficiently manage this crisis and minimize outage durations could influence regulatory outcomes and investor sentiment. Despite short-term pressures, FE's fundamental business model as a regulated utility remains stable, with this event unlikely to significantly alter long-term financial projections.

Crews continue working 24/7 to restore service to 265,000 customers following historic storm

AKRON, Ohio, Aug. 8, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has restored power to more than 215,000 customers of Ohio Edison and The Illuminating Company following a historic weather event Tuesday that included two tornados with winds up to 110 mph in Cuyahoga County, one of which traveled a path 17 miles long and 350 yards wide through the heavily populated area from Brookpark to Bedford.

This was the most impactful storm to hit The Illuminating Company service territory since July 1993, when a powerful line of thunderstorms caused power outages to approximately 300,000 of the company's customers.

Photos and video footage of damage and FirstEnergy crews working across northeast Ohio can be viewed or downloaded here.

More than 3,050 line workers from FirstEnergy, contractor companies and mutual assistance organizations, assisted by more than 1,000 damage assessors, hazard responders, forestry and other support personnel from inside and outside the company, are working around the clock in 16-hour shifts to make repairs as quickly and safely as possible. Hundreds of additional crews are expected to arrive throughout today and begin assisting.

FirstEnergy has begun setting up staging sites across the greater Cleveland area to handle the influx of outside workers and help make the restoration process more efficient. These sites operate like mini-cities in the hardest-hit areas, offering workers a place stock up on materials and supplies as they work to restore power.

There are currently hundreds, even thousands, of damage locations recorded across northeast Ohio, with more broken poles and equipment issues being reported in real-time as field workers continue to assess the outage locations and make repairs.

Current outage updates as of 10 a.m. today include:

• The Illuminating Company: Approximately 322,600 Illuminating Company customers lost power from the storm, and 248,300 remain without power. Power will be restored to the majority of customers by 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 14.
• Ohio Edison: Approximately 106,900 Ohio Edison customers lost power from the storm, and 9,100 remain without power. While many remaining customers should be back up and running through the day today and tomorrow, those in the hardest-hit areas of Trumbull County could be without service until Saturday.

Established while crews are restoring power and assessing the full extent of damages, the initial "global estimated time of restoration" (ETR) represents an estimate of when service will be restored to the majority of customers following major outage events. Work to restore power continues around the clock, and many customers will have service restored sooner, based on the level of damage in their area. 

As additional information about necessary repairs is understood, more detailed ETRs are provided. Customers can view their current individual ETR for their particular outage by logging into their account at firstenergycorp.com, texting STAT to 54487, or viewing the outage map at firstenergycorp.com/outages.

FirstEnergy's Restoration Process:

FirstEnergy follows a formal restoration process after severe weather, focusing on repairs that will address the largest number of customers before moving on to more isolated issues. The restoration effort typically begins with transmission and substation facilities and then prioritizes critical facilities like hospitals, communications and emergency response agencies.

Additionally, hundreds of isolated issues affect individual or small numbers of customers. These are the most time-consuming repairs because they require our crews to go to each individual location to make the repairs. Many of the isolated issues include repairs to "service drops," which are wires attached to each home to deliver electricity from the neighborhood power line. These wires are often damaged by fallen trees and large branches.

For updated information on the company's current outages, storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, visit FirstEnergy's 24/7 Power Center at firstenergycorp.com/outages. To learn more about navigating the recently updated map, please visit bit.ly/FEoutagemapupdates.

Generator Safety Reminder:

To ensure the safety of the home's occupants as well as that of electric company employees who may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician.

When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto the power lines, creating a hazardous situation for company workers. Locate the generator outside of your home and far away from windows, doors and vents. Never locate a generator inside your home.

View additional generator safety information.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy and its operating companies on X, formerly known as Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp, @IlluminatingCo, @OhioEdison.

 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

How many FirstEnergy (FE) customers are still without power after the August 2024 storm?

As of the press release, approximately 265,000 FirstEnergy (FE) customers were still without power following the historic storm in Northeast Ohio.

When does FirstEnergy (FE) expect to restore power to most customers affected by the August 2024 storm?

FirstEnergy (FE) expects to restore power to the majority of affected customers by 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, with some hard-hit areas potentially waiting until Saturday.

How many workers has FirstEnergy (FE) deployed for the power restoration effort in Northeast Ohio?

FirstEnergy (FE) has deployed over 3,050 line workers and 1,000 support personnel, working in 16-hour shifts to restore power in Northeast Ohio.

What was the extent of the storm damage that affected FirstEnergy's (FE) service area in August 2024?

The storm included two tornados with winds up to 110 mph in Cuyahoga County, one of which traveled a 17-mile path. It was the most impactful storm to hit The Illuminating Company service territory since July 1993.