FirstEnergy Crews Ready for More Severe Weather as Restoration from Windstorm Continues

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) crews continue storm restoration after high winds affected more than 800,000 customers across OH, PA, WV and MD. Teams have restored power to over 96% of impacted customers, replaced nearly 600 poles, 225,000 feet of wire and 1,300 crossarms. More storms with 50–65 mph gusts are expected March 16, 2026, and crews remain staged with contractors to support 24/7 restoration.

The company detailed its prioritized restoration steps, safety tips for customers and multiple outage reporting channels.

Positive

• Restored >96% of affected customers
• Replaced nearly 600 broken utility poles
• Deployed 3,400 outside workers plus 7,000 employees
• Repaired more than 225,000 feet of wire

Negative

• More severe storms expected today with 50–65 mph wind gusts
• Initial outage scale exceeded 800,000 customers affected
• Sustained high winds may delay bucket-truck restoration

News Market Reaction – FE

+1.17%

+1.17% Session close to close

In the Mar 16 session, FE gained 1.17%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.

Market Context

This announcement highlights FE’s restoration progress, with more than 96% of roughly 800,000 affect...

Analysis

This announcement highlights FE’s restoration progress, with more than 96% of roughly 800,000 affected customers back online and substantial repairs including nearly 600 poles and over 225,000 feet of wire. It reinforces the company’s ongoing emphasis on reliability and storm response across its multi-state network of about 24,000 miles of transmission lines. Investors may monitor future updates on outage duration, restoration costs, and any follow‑on grid hardening initiatives tied to severe weather events.

Key Figures

Customers impacted: 800,000 customers Restoration progress: More than 96% Broken poles replaced: Nearly 600 poles +5 more

8 metrics

Customers impacted 800,000 customers Affected by powerful winds since Friday across four states

Restoration progress More than 96% Share of impacted customers with power already restored

Broken poles replaced Nearly 600 poles Extensive repairs from recent windstorm

Wire replaced More than 225,000 feet Distribution and transmission repairs after storm damage

Crossarms and braces 1,300 units Utility pole crossarms and braces replaced

Mutual aid workers More than 3,400 Outside line, tree and support personnel assisting FE crews

FirstEnergy workers More than 7,000 Internal workforce engaged in 24/7 restoration

Transmission network Approximately 24,000 miles Transmission lines operated by FE subsidiaries

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Mar 02 (Positive)

Pattern 5 events

Date	Event	Sentiment	24h Move	Catalyst
Mar 02	Transmission projects	Positive	-0.3%	PJM-selected reliability projects with about $950M in planned transmission investment.
Feb 26	Leadership change	Neutral	+0.0%	Appointment of VP, Transmission Finance overseeing filings, rates and joint ventures.
Feb 25	Foundation grant	Neutral	+0.0%	$10,000 grant to support first responder training equipment at a community college.
Feb 19	Grid upgrade project	Positive	+1.3%	$30M Van Reed 69‑kV project to improve reliability for 6,000+ customers.
Feb 18	Substation completion	Positive	-0.8%	Completion of $6.6M substation enhancing reliability for about 2,400 customers.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Pattern Detected

Operational and infrastructure news has generally produced modest price moves, with a mix of aligned and diverging reactions.

Recent Company History

Recent FE news has focused on grid reliability, transmission investment and community support. Projects such as a $950 million PJM transmission build-out and a $30 million Berks County upgrade highlight ongoing infrastructure expansion, while new substations improved reliability for thousands of customers. Leadership changes in transmission finance and charitable grants rounded out the flow. Today’s storm-restoration update fits this theme of operational reliability and system resilience communications across its multi-state service territory.

Key Terms

downed power lines, transmission lines

2 terms

downed power lines technical

"Clear hazards – like downed power lines, trees and blocked roads"

Downed power lines are electrical cables that have fallen to the ground or become detached from their supports, posing immediate safety hazards and interrupting electricity supply. For investors, they matter because outages can halt production, reduce sales, trigger emergency costs, raise insurance and liability exposure, and affect utilities’ reliability ratings—similar to a broken highway that blocks deliveries and forces costly detours for businesses along the supply chain.

transmission lines technical

"The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines"

High-voltage towers and cables that carry electricity from power plants to cities and substations, like highways that move energy rather than cars. For investors, transmission lines are long-lived, capital-intensive assets whose condition, capacity and regulatory treatment affect utility revenues, reliability and the ability to connect new generation; bottlenecks or upgrades can change costs, permit timelines and future returns.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

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AKRON, Ohio, March 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Another round of severe weather is moving into FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) service area today, and the company is prepared to respond to any power outages it may cause.

Since Friday, powerful winds have affected more than 800,000 customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Maryland, and crews have restored power to more than 96% of the customers impacted. Extensive repairs have included replacing nearly 600 broken poles, more than 225,000 feet of wire and 1,300 utility pole crossarms and braces.

FirstEnergy is closely watching two additional rounds of storms expected this afternoon and tonight. These storms could bring wind gusts of 50 to 65 miles per hour, 1 to 2 inches of rain and the potential for isolated tornadoes, particularly in Maryland, New Jersey and the eastern half of Pennsylvania. Some areas may also see accumulating snow.

Crews remain fully engaged as today's weather approaches. More than 3,400 outside line workers, tree crews, hazard responders and other support personnel have joined more than 7,000 FirstEnergy workers to support 24/7 restoration efforts. As new outages occur, focus will remain on restoring power first to customers who have been without service the longest.

How We Restore Power After a Storm

FirstEnergy follows a formal restoration process to restore service as quickly as safely possible:

1. Clear hazards – like downed power lines, trees and blocked roads
2. Repair high-voltage lines that provide electricity to local lines
3. Restore power to critical public service facilities
4. Address outages affecting the most customers
5. Fix localized issues and restore power to individual customers

Sustained high winds impact our ability to work in the air and can delay restoration efforts until crews can safely use bucket trucks. Fallen trees and blocked roads may also delay access to outage locations.

Customer Safety and Preparedness Tips

FirstEnergy encourages customers to stay weather‑aware, have a plan in place and put safety first as storms move through the area:

• Stay 30 feet away from downed power lines – call 911 immediately
• Secure loose outdoor items including garbage cans, furniture and trampolines
• Charge phones and essential devices
• Keep flashlights, batteries and a radio ready
• Store water if you rely on a well pump
• Have no‑cook foods on hand
• Steer clear of trees and utility poles in high winds

How to Report an Outage

If you lose power during the storm, please report your outage:

• Call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877)
• Text OUT to LIGHTS (544487)
• Online at firstenergycorp.com/outages

Get Outage Updates

• Text REG to 544487 to sign up for outage text alerts. Once signed up, text STAT to 544487 to get the latest update for your home
• Log into your online account
• View our outage maps

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) 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 six million 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. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on X: @FirstEnergyCorp.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

How many customers did FirstEnergy (FE) lose power for during the March 2026 windstorm?

More than 800,000 customers were affected during the March 2026 windstorm. According to the company, crews have restored power to over 96% of impacted customers while continuing repairs across multiple states.

What restoration resources did FirstEnergy (FE) deploy for the March 16, 2026 storms?

FirstEnergy mobilized over 3,400 outside workers plus more than 7,000 employees for 24/7 restoration. According to the company, teams include line workers, tree crews, hazard responders and support personnel.

What damage and repairs did FirstEnergy (FE) report after the windstorm?

Repairs included nearly 600 broken poles, >225,000 feet of wire and 1,300 crossarms and braces. According to the company, crews prioritized hazards, high-voltage lines and critical public facilities during restoration.

Are more storms expected in FirstEnergy's (FE) service area on March 16, 2026?

Yes, additional storms were forecast for March 16, 2026, with possible 50–65 mph gusts, heavy rain and isolated tornado risk. According to the company, crews remain staged and will respond to new outages.

How can FirstEnergy (FE) customers report outages during the March 2026 weather event?

Customers can report outages by calling 1-888-LIGHTSS, texting OUT to 544487, or using online accounts and outage maps. According to the company, text alerts and STAT updates are available after signing up.