Crews Working 24/7 to Restore Power to FirstEnergy Customers Following Severe Thunderstorms

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is actively responding to widespread power outages caused by severe thunderstorms that affected over 311,000 customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland. As of the latest update, power has been restored to nearly 261,000 customers.

The storms, featuring winds exceeding 65 mph, caused significant damage particularly in Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia, resulting in broken poles, crossarms, and downed power lines. The company has deployed all internal crews and secured over 330 additional outside lineworkers working in 16-hour shifts.

Current outage status:

• Penelec: 19,800 of 96,900 affected customers remain without power
• West Penn Power: 17,200 of 54,500 affected customers still without service
• Mon Power & Potomac Edison: Under 7,000 of 44,000 affected customers waiting for restoration

Complete restoration is expected by March 19, with most areas receiving power sooner based on damage severity.

Positive

• Quick restoration progress with 84% of affected customers' power already restored
• Efficient emergency response with deployment of additional 330 outside lineworkers
• Clear communication of restoration timeline and priorities to stakeholders

Negative

• Extensive infrastructure damage requiring multiple days for full restoration
• Significant service disruption affecting 311,000 customers across multiple states
• Extended restoration timeline until March 19 for some areas impacting customer satisfaction

High winds, heavy rain caused power outages for more than 311,000 FirstEnergy customers

AKRON, Ohio, March 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Power has been restored to nearly 261,000 of the approximately 311,000 FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) customers who lost service due to severe storms that swept across the company's service territory on Sunday. FirstEnergy's electric company personnel will continue to work around the clock in 16-hour shifts, aided by additional line workers and support personnel from outside the company, to make repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

The powerful storm system brought heavy rain and strong winds exceeding 65 mph in parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland. Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia were the hardest hit areas, with widespread tree-related damage that caused numerous broken poles and crossarms and downed power lines. Due to the extent of damage, restoration work is expected to continue over the next few days, particularly in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Customers should assume all downed or low-hanging power lines are energized and dangerous. Stay at least 30 feet away and use extra caution where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris. Report downed lines ASAP by calling 911.

All internal line crews, hazard responders, forestry crews, contractors, safety and other support personnel are involved in storm response, and more than 330 additional outside lineworkers have been secured to assist the restoration effort. Though downed trees and road closures can slow progress, crews will continue to work around the clock to safely make repairs and ensure service to all customers has been restored.

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

• Penelec: Approximately 96,900 customers in northern and central Pennsylvania lost power due to the storm, and about 19,800 remain without service. Customers in the hardest hit areas around DuBois, Clearfield, Indiana and Philipsburg are expected to have power restored by 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. Other impacted customers are expected to have power restored throughout the day today and tomorrow.
• West Penn Power: Approximately 54,500 customers in western Pennsylvania lost power due to the storm, and 17,200 remain without service. Customers in the hardest hit areas around Uniontown and State College are expected to have power restored by 11 p.m. on Wednesday, March 19. The majority of other impacted customers are expected to have power restored by 3 p.m. tomorrow.
• Mon Power & Potomac Edison: Approximately 44,000 customers of Mon Power and Potomac Edison in West Virginia lost power due to the storm, and fewer than 7,000 remain without service. Customers in the hardest hit areas around Clarksburg and White Hall are expected to have power restored by 2 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18. Other impacted customers are expected to have power restored throughout the day today.

Many customers will have power restored sooner than the estimated restoration time depending on the level of damage in their area. As crews continue assessing damage and making repairs, we will provide restoration updates for specific locations as they become available on our outage map. Customers can also text STAT to 544487 to receive an update for their reported outage. Customers who are not currently signed up for text message updates must first text REG to 544487. 

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.

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 electric companies on X @FirstEnergyCorp, @ToledoEdison, @IlluminatingCo, @OhioEdison, @MonPowerWV, @JCP_L, @Penn_Power, @Penelec, @Met_Ed, @PotomacEdison, @W_Penn_Power.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

How many FirstEnergy (FE) customers were affected by the March 2025 thunderstorms?

Over 311,000 FirstEnergy customers lost power, with approximately 261,000 restored as of the latest update.

When will power be restored to FirstEnergy (FE) customers in Pennsylvania's hardest-hit areas?

Customers in DuBois, Clearfield, Indiana, and Philipsburg areas are expected to have power restored by 3 p.m. on March 19, 2025.

How many additional line workers has FirstEnergy (FE) deployed for storm restoration?

More than 330 additional outside lineworkers have been secured to assist with the restoration effort.

What is FirstEnergy's (FE) restoration process priority during power outages?

FirstEnergy prioritizes transmission and substation facilities first, followed by critical facilities like hospitals, communications, and emergency response agencies.

Which regions were most severely impacted by the FirstEnergy (FE) power outages?

Western Pennsylvania and Northern West Virginia were the hardest hit areas, with widespread tree-related damage.