FirstEnergy Customers Angered By Frequent Outages
We’ve all been through a few summer storm power outages. And usually, the longer a blackout lasts, the worse it can get. But so far this summer, several Cleveland area towns have lost power a dozen times in just two and a half months. With their power from FirstEnergy so unreliable, many wonder what their electricity bills are supposed to be paying for. Now, angry city councilmen are demanding answers about these frequent outages. And PUCO has agreed to step in.
Cleveland Area Frequent Outages
According to reports by WOIO News 19, the Cleveland area has seen 12 outages since May 1.
At the time of this writing on June 25, an overnight storm cut power to thousands in the Cleveland area. Power to some areas may not happen until 3 pm.
Councilman Wants FirstEnergy To Pay
Clearly, the number of outages isn’t just inconvenient. Families must go for hours without AC during the hottest part of the year. Restaurants must throw out spoiled food. And people who rely on home medical devices must find power in other places. So, it’s easy to see why Cleveland area customers are furious.
City leaders in these towns want answers. Barberton mayor William Judge sent a complaint to PUCO and FirstEnergy. Councilman Thomas Heitic went on to call for $100 credits for the city’s 10,000 ratepayers. And in Lakewood, mayor Meghan George’s letter to PUCO squarely blamed the company’s “corporate ineptitude and apathy“. The city also urged people to file complaints with PUCO as well to track the outages.
On July 1, PUCO replied that it had begun looking into the outages. PUCO staff will need to review outage data. They will also likely check through the company’s equipment, repair plans, and talk with personnel. Their findings could take months to complete.
It’s note worthy that these outages come after several Ohio utilities hiked distribution charges. The reason they gave was raise funds to improve the grid. Past efforts to upgrade the Ohio grid have stumbled through a few snags. In 2019, the Ohio Supreme Court struck down a PUCO approved bill rider charge to cover FirstEnergy grid upgrades. In part, they found the rider had “no directives or timelines regarding specific distribution-modernization projects.” Had the rider gone through, it would have allowed FirstEnergy to spend that money on anything.
The recently signed HB15 law ends these kinds of riders. But, with FirstEnergy under close scrutiny for these outages, critics are quick to point out its ongoing bribery scandal troubles. So, there’s little wonder why so many people in northeast Ohio don’t trust it.
What’s Next For FirstEnergy?
Clearly, FirstEnergy can’t control severe storms and traffic accidents. But, they are responsible for keeping their grid working reliably for their customers. The fact that this isn’t happening has lawmakers and customers fed up.
The team at https://www.ohenergyratings.com will keep following this story. You can count on us for tips and info and will report on anything that could affect your bills. You can also shop here for the best energy deals in town.