FirstEnergy Utilities Prepare for Early Snowstorm

AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As a large-scale winter storm gathers strength on the East Coast, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) utilities Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed), West Penn Power, Mon Power and Potomac Edison are mobilizing employees and resources to help aid the restoration process should the storm impact customers' electric service this weekend.

Wet snow and high winds have the potential to cause significant damage to the electrical system and could be especially damaging since leaves remain on trees.  Company meteorologists continue to monitor the situation and are predicting that up to 12 inches of snow could fall in some areas of northern New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania by the end of the weekend.  In addition, severe weather also is predicted for parts of central Pennsylvania served by West Penn Power, parts of Maryland served by Potomac Edison and parts of West Virginia served by Mon Power.  

Steps being taken to prepare for the anticipated winter weather include:

• Preparing to mobilize employees and resources from throughout FirstEnergy's 10 utilities to assist in storm restoration activities in the hardest-hit areas
• Securing additional outside utility crews and tree contractors to assist with the outage restoration process
• Arranging for the activation of staging areas for crews and equipment in locations expected to be impacted by the storm based on current predictions and modeling
• Communicating with emergency management officials, state officials, regulators and the media about our storm preparation efforts.  Additional governmental affairs and communications representatives are being deployed to New Jersey to assist with this process

"Based on current forecasts and predictions, we are proactively pre-positioning our crews to get them out ahead of the storm to minimize the impact the severe weather could have on our customers," said Mark Julian, vice president, Utility Operations, FirstEnergy Utilities.  "With 10 utilities in a five-state service area, we will provide additional linemen, vehicles and supplies to help speed the restoration process if the wet snow and winds damage our equipment and cause service interruptions."

For updated information on the company's preparation efforts for the early snowstorm, current outages, FirstEnergy's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, go to www.firstenergycorp.com.

In a large-scale weather event, FirstEnergy urges all customers to follow the advice and recommendations of emergency management officials.  The company also offers the following tips if customers experience an outage:

Reporting an Outage

• If your lights go out, contact your local electric utility to report an outage.  JCP&L and Met-Ed customers should call the automated reporting line at 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877).  Potomac Edison, West Penn Power and Mon Power customers should call 1-800-255-3443.
• Immediately report downed wires to your 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.
• Don't try to remove trees or tree limbs from power lines.  Wait for utility crews to arrive.

Safety Tips During Outages

• Keep flashlights and fresh batteries in your home.  Avoid using candles to light your home, especially around children and pets.
• Never use a gas stove or lantern intended for outdoor use inside your home.
• Make sure you have fresh batteries in a portable radio so you can stay tuned to your local radio station for updates on our progress to restore power.  

Customer Generators

• Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing or wanting uninterrupted service.  However, to ensure the safety of the home's occupants as well as that of utility 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, always disconnect the power coming into your home.  Otherwise, power from your generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers.

JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in 13 New Jersey counties; Met-Ed serves 560,000 customers in 13 Pennsylvania counties; West Penn Power serves nearly 720,000 customers in Pennsylvania; Potomac Edison serves approximately 250,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and 135,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia; and Mon Power serves nearly 390,000 customers in West Virginia.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies comprise the nation's largest investor-owned electric system.  Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed baseload coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of nearly 23,000 megawatts.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.