STORM UPDATE

Regarding the powerful and historic storm system which brought strong winds exceeding 75 mph in parts of Ohio; 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.

• Approximately 322,600 Illuminating Company customers lost power from the storm, and 248,300 remain without power as of 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 8.
• While damage assessment in the greater Cleveland area continues, as of right now we have confirmed approximately 300 broken poles which require replacement.
• More than 3,050 company line crews and additional line workers from contractors and mutual assistance organizations are working on the restoration effort.
• They are joined by more than 1,000 forestry personnel, damage assessors and hazard responders who are assisting in restoration activities.
• Personnel will continue to work around the clock in 16-hour shifts to make repairs as quickly and safely as possible.

Global Estimated Time of Restoral (ETR)

• Restoration is ongoing. FirstEnergy estimates that power will be restored to the majority of customers by Wednesday, August 14 at 11:30pm. “Global ETRs” are an estimate of when service will be restored to the majority of customers following major outage events; many customers will have service restored sooner, based on the level of damage in their area. 
  • Customers can locate their best current Individual ETR by logging into their account at www.firstenergycorp.com, texting STAT to 54487, or viewing the outage map at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.

Please treat all downed wires as live and dangerous

• 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.

Restoration Process:

• When outages are widespread, our restoration process helps to keep the public safe while crews quickly work to get customers back up and running. We prioritize this work as follows:
  • Isolate hazards and make safe
  • Repair high-voltage lines/restore essential functions
  • Restore hospitals and other critical medical facilities, police and fire departments, and 911 facilities
  • Repair main feeder/distribution lines
  • Restore areas with largest number of customers
  • Restore individual homes
• It is important that Customers report power outages to CEI. To report a downed wire or outage, call 1-888- LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877), text OUT to 544487 or click the “Report Outage” link on www.firstenergycorp.com.  For detailed local information about power outages, click on the “MyTown” link on the 24/7 Power Center outage maps.