FirstEnergy is looking to gain Ohio's approval to extend the duration and frequency of power outages, which raises significant concerns for residents.
In a recent proposal, FirstEnergy has approached state regulators with a request to allow its subsidiaries—Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., Ohio Edison, and Toledo Edison—to take more time in restoring power after outages occur. Additionally, these companies are also seeking permission to increase the number of outages that can be tolerated each year.
The company admits that despite historically maintaining a strong record of reliability, it has struggled to meet reliability standards in recent years. They stated, "While the Companies have historically had strong reliability performance, they have faced challenges in meeting their reliability standards in recent years. In general, the Companies’ reliability performance has worsened since 2019."
However, cities like Cleveland, Barberton, and Lakewood have voiced strong opposition to FirstEnergy’s request, urging state officials to deny it. The city of Cleveland highlighted the potential negative consequences for its residents, citing increased hardships during blackouts such as the inability to use essential medical devices like electric wheelchairs and oxygen machines, disruptions to work and school schedules, risks from extreme temperatures, and financial losses from spoiled food.
The final decision will be made by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), the governing body responsible for regulating vital services including electricity, natural gas, and water. After several months of discussions and filings, the case is now set to enter the hearing phase, with the first evidentiary hearing scheduled for January 21.
So, what exactly does FirstEnergy want? The state regulators assess power reliability based primarily on two key metrics: one measures the average duration of power outages, while the other tracks the frequency of outages experienced by the average customer over the course of a year.
According to the company, Cleveland Electric Illuminating (CEI) has been unable to meet the standard for average outage durations for the past two years and is thus requesting more leeway. Specifically, FirstEnergy has proposed extending the average reconnection time from 135 minutes to 150 minutes, while Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison have asked for smaller increments of around three and twelve additional minutes per outage, respectively.
The company contends that these new standards stem from their historical performance and rely on sound statistical analysis, making them reasonable and justified.
Yet, consumer advocacy groups warn that this proposed adjustment isn’t merely about adding a few extra minutes to each blackout. Jon Blackwood, a spokesperson for the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, pointed out that the change pertains to averages rather than individual instances, explaining, "One extra day of power being out might translate to a few extra minutes in those reliability standards."
In a filing last December, Lakewood raised alarms with state regulators about the safety risks posed by frequent power failures. They reported over 60 outages lasting longer than five hours between September 2024 and September 2025. Alarmingly, more than half of these significant outages were attributed to equipment failures or errors on FirstEnergy’s part, as acknowledged by the company itself.
During one prolonged outage in June, Lakewood took the initiative to provide grocery vouchers to low-income families who lost perishable food items, leading to over 400 households applying for assistance. Furthermore, the city reported that elderly and disabled residents had been trapped in elevators for extended periods, creating dangerous situations for those dependent on electrically powered medical devices.
Both Lakewood and the Ohio Consumers Counsel have called for an independent investigation into the causes of these outages, a sentiment echoed by Barberton in its own claims to the PUCO.
Why are these outages becoming more frequent? FirstEnergy cites challenges such as trees falling outside of their trimming zones, detailing how increased rainfall since 2000 has made ground conditions wetter, which in turn raises the risk of even healthy trees toppling during storms. However, both Lakewood and Cleveland have contested this justification, stating that a considerable number of outages were due to equipment failures, line issues, and human error attributable to FirstEnergy.
In fact, Lakewood documented that 33 outages were caused by line failures, equipment malfunctions, or mistakes made by the company, while only 12 were connected to tree-related issues. Cleveland echoed these concerns, noting that nearly two-thirds of the outages affecting its residents were within FirstEnergy's control.
Another significant contributor to outages is the aging infrastructure, including outdated lines and equipment. FirstEnergy claims that their grid upgrades are beginning to yield results; however, they admit that these improvements have not been sufficient to address the overall decline in reliability across the system. Critics argue that customers have already invested over $1 billion into reliability enhancements since 2017, yet FirstEnergy is now indicating to the PUCO that these investments have yet to translate into tangible improvements in service. As Cleveland pointedly remarked, "Cleveland residents should not be forced to pay more for less reliable service."
Moreover, there are concerns regarding the distribution of upgrades and maintenance. A report released by the Ohio Environmental Council revealed disparities in grid conditions across various neighborhoods, indicating that communities like Cleveland are facing worse conditions due to older equipment, a higher prevalence of lower-voltage lines, and circuits that are less capable of handling high demand.
This situation undoubtedly raises important questions about the future of power reliability in Ohio. Do you think FirstEnergy should be allowed to extend the duration of outages and increase their frequency? How can residents best advocate for better service? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
