FirstEnergy Electric Companies Offers Tips to Stay Safe and Save Energy During Extreme Cold Investing.com

AKRON, Ohio, January 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — As cold weather rules the region, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: NYSE: ) electric companies are reminding customers of steps they can take to stay safe and better manage energy bills that could rise due to cold weather. Based on current forecasts, FirstEnergy’s entire six-state footprint will be affected by the cold, with sub-zero temperatures likely to arrive early next week and last for several days.

The company’s linemen will be ready to help if arctic conditions cause any customer to lose power. A list of videos featuring utility personnel discussing winter power restoration activities is available at YouTube.

FirstEnergy takes a number of steps to prepare its system for cold weather, including pre-winter inspections of key electrical equipment. Companies are also reviewing staffing levels and cold weather operating procedures to ensure that any localized power outages caused by extreme cold are addressed immediately and are postponing any non-critical, scheduled outage work scheduled for next week in areas of extreme cold. FirstEnergy also continues to engage in discussions with the regional grid operator and peers to take any necessary proactive steps to ensure grid reliability during these extreme temperatures.

Customers should review important winter safety information and prepare in case of weather-related outages.

Safety tips:

• Heating devices, such as space heaters and electric blankets, should never be left unattended or used while you sleep.
• Never fold the electric blanket while it is in use. This can damage the wires inside the blanket, causing it to overheat or spark.
• Use only heaters intended for indoor use. Keep all heat sources at least three feet away from curtains, carpets, or furniture that could catch fire.
• Never use a gas stove, charcoal grill, or outdoor lamp in your home because it can lead to a build-up of deadly carbon monoxide gas.
• If you are using a portable generator during a power outage, place it outside your home and away from windows, doors and vents. Never use a generator in your home!
• Keep electronic devices, such as cell phones, laptops, and tablets, fully charged so they are ready for emergencies.
• Keep a flashlight, portable radio, and extra batteries handy in case the power goes out.
• Contact your local emergency management agency for a list of warming centers and other cold weather support.

Tips for saving energy:

• Dress for the weather. Wearing an extra layer or wrapping yourself in a blanket while relaxing can help you feel more comfortable without turning up the thermostat.
• Rotate ceiling fans clockwise at low speed to push warm air near the ceiling down. This can make your space warmer without adjusting the temperature of your home.
• Close the fireplace damper when not in use to prevent cold air from entering.
• Close the curtains at night. During the day, open only those that have direct sunlight.
• Turn off lights when not in use. Change your furnace filters regularly to make sure your heating system is working efficiently.
• Keep supply or return air registers free of obstructions such as curtains or furniture.
• Seal any leaks with caulk or weatherstripping to prevent cold air from entering your home.
• Wrap exposed pipes in insulation or layers of newspaper. Avoid frozen pipes by opening faucets and maintaining a constant drip.
• Keep the top garage door closed to prevent cold wind from entering the connecting door between the house and the garage.
• Other FirstEnergy energy saving tips are available at firstenergycorp.com/saveenergy.

Help with paying the electricity bill:

Cold temperatures can lead to higher electricity bills. FirstEnergy understands that there are many reasons why a customer may struggle to pay their electric bill and is here to help, offering budget plans, special payment plans and access to energy assistance programs. To apply or learn more about utility bill assistance programs, customers are encouraged to visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist.

Possibilities of communication with clients:

If winter weather causes an outage, customers without power should call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or report it online at www.firstenergycorp.com/reportoutage.

FirstEnergy customers can subscribe to email and text message notifications to receive updates after they report a power outage. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts and ask other questions about their electric bills. More information about these communication tools is available online at www.firstenergycorp.com/connect.

FirstEnergy is committed to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the state’s largest investor-owned electric systems, serving six million customers in the Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company’s transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines connecting the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on X: @FirstEnergyCorp.