What does a reliable electric service mean for your family, your home, or your business? In recent years, many FirstEnergy customers have struggled with outages that disrupt daily life, from spoiled groceries to interruptions in essential services and medical equipment. The Ohio Environmental Council (OEC) believes that every Ohioan deserves an electric service they can count on. Â
But right now, FirstEnergy is asking the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to weaken the reliability standards it must meet. Cities like Lakewood and Barberton have stepped forward to oppose this request, urging PUCO to hold the utility to strong, enforceable standards. Now, the PUCO needs to hear from you directly.
This is your opportunity to tell regulators what reliability should mean in your community and what you expect from your electric utility.
What to Know About FirstEnergy and Reliability
- FirstEnergy collected roughly $460 million from Ohio customers through a grid modernization charge over several years, but an audit found no clear evidence it was spent on the improvements it was intended for.
- After a series of outages in Lakewood this summer, PUCO found FirstEnergy likely violated its legal obligations to invest in the grid and provide safe, reliable service.
- OEC’s analysis shows FirstEnergy’s grid is less resilient in low-income and energy-burdened communities, leaving some neighborhoods more vulnerable to outages and slower restoration times.
What FirstEnergy’s Proposal Means for You
If adopted, FirstEnergy’s proposal could:
- Lower reliability obligations for outage frequency and duration
- Undermine PUCO’s ongoing investigation into service performance
- Delay needed grid maintenance and upgrades in underserved communities
By submitting a public comment today, you can help hold our utilities accountable.
Sample Language:
I am writing today as an Ohio resident to urge the PUCO to:
- Reject attempts to weaken reliability standards
- Adopt strict, enforceable rules that reflect real customer experience
- Prioritize improvements in communities facing underinvestment and repeated outages
- Ensure FirstEnergy delivers safe, consistent, dependable service
Ohioans deserve a power grid that works. PUCO’s decision will impact families, safety, and economic stability across our region. If PUCO adopts weaker standards, FirstEnergy could meet its obligations on paper while customers continue to face unreliable service. This case will determine whether the utility must improve performance or whether expectations are lowered.
Take action now: Tell PUCO to strengthen, not weaken, FirstEnergy’s reliabilty standards.
(Use Docketing Case Number: Case 24-1112-EL-ESS)
