FirstEnergy Receives Industry Recognition for Outage Restoration Efforts

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 11, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- For the 12^th consecutive year, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) has earned recognition for its emergency response efforts from the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), a leading electric industry organization.   

FirstEnergy was honored with the "Emergency Assistance Award" as a result of sending more than 600 line workers and support personnel to assist Florida Power and Light, Duke Energy Florida, Tampa Electric Company and South Carolina Electric and Gas after Hurricane Irma caused wide-spread damage and large-scale power outages in Florida and South Carolina.  Over a 15-day period in early September last year, FirstEnergy personnel were part of an effort that ultimately helped restore electric service to more than 4 million customers. 

FirstEnergy also earned the "Emergency Recovery Award" for restoration efforts on behalf of its own customers following confirmed tornados and severe thunderstorms that caused nearly 350,000 FirstEnergy customers in Pennsylvania and Ohio to lose power in early May of last year.  Overall, more than 480 utility poles and 280 transformers were replaced, along with approximately 52 miles of wire.  FirstEnergy crews were able to restore about 95 percent of the affected customers within four days.

"The tireless work by FirstEnergy crews during Hurricane Irma and during the thunderstorms and high winds in May exemplifies our industry's commitment to customer service," said EEI President Tom Kuhn.  "FirstEnergy crews worked diligently to safely restore service to customers and are deserving of these awards."

"Receiving both awards is a special honor because it means our employees used their considerable skills to benefit our own customers, and those of other utilities," said Steven Strah, senior vice president of FirstEnergy and president of FirstEnergy Utilities.  "Hurricane Irma was a historic storm that caused multiple challenges that our employees were able to overcome, including hazardous travel conditions, a heat index up to 110 degrees, and massive tree damage."

EEI presents awards twice annually to member companies to recognize extraordinary efforts to restore power or for assisting other electric companies after service disruptions caused by severe weather conditions and other natural events.  Winners are chosen by a panel of judges following an international nomination process.  The awards were presented January 10, 2018, during the winter EEI Board of Directors and CEO meeting in Arizona.

EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies.  Members provide electricity for 220 million Americans, and operate in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  As a whole, the electric power industry supports more than 7 million jobs in communities across the United States.  In addition, EEI has more than 60 international electric companies as International Members, and hundreds of industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate Members.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 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 more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions.  Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com.  Follow FirstEnergy and its utilities on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp, @ToledoEdison, @IlluminatingCo, @OhioEdison, @MonPowerWV, @JCP_L, @Penn_Power, @Penelec, @Met_Ed, @PotomacEdison, @W_Penn_Power.

Editor's Note:  A photo of Steven Strah, senior vice president of FirstEnergy and president of FirstEnergy Utilities, accepting the emergency response award from EEI President Tom Kuhn is available for download on Flickr.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.