FirstEnergy Prepared to Handle July Heat Wave

AKRON, Ohio, July 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp.'s FE distribution and transmission systems are prepared to meet the anticipated increase in customer electricity usage associated with 90-degree temperatures expected across the company's service area later this week.

"Our comprehensive system maintenance program helps to ensure system reliability when temperatures climb and customers depend on us to stay comfortable," said Steven E. Strah, senior vice president of FirstEnergy and president of FirstEnergy Utilities.  "From western Ohio to the New Jersey shore, our electric system is designed and maintained to operate effectively even in extreme weather conditions."

FirstEnergy's utilities offer some common-sense hot weather tips customers can follow to stay comfortable while using electricity wisely during this period of high demand:

• Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow. Every degree a customer can increase the temperature in their home will result in using about 3 percent less energy during the hottest summer days.
• During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatures.
• Use fans – moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.
• Use a programmable thermostat to keep temperatures higher when no one is home, and to reduce the temperature before arrival back home.
• Only operate window air conditioners when someone is in the room.
• Keep refrigerators and freezers as full as possible. Frozen or cold items in the refrigerator help keep other items cool, reducing the amount of work the refrigerator has to do to maintain a lower temperature.
• Close rooms that aren't used regularly during the summer, and close the air conditioning vents in those rooms, as well.
• Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat produced in the home, the less work the air conditioner will have to do.
• Consider investing in ENERGY STAR® appliances or heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. FirstEnergy's utilities may offer rebates on these purchases and tax deductions may apply, as well.
• Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.

FirstEnergy utilities include: Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison in Ohio; Jersey Central Power & Light in New Jersey; Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec), Pennsylvania Power (Penn Power), and West Penn Power in Pennsylvania; Mon Power in West Virginia; and Potomac Edison in Maryland.

For updated company information, including hot weather tips, customers are urged to visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.  The utility companies also will provide updates via Twitter:

• Ohio Edison: @OhioEdison
• The Illuminating Company: @IlluminatingCo
• Toledo Edison: @ToledoEdison
• Mon Power: @MonPowerWV
• JCP&L: @JCP_L
• Penn Power: @Penn_Power
• Penelec: @Penelec
• Met-Ed: @Met_Ed
• Potomac Edison: @PotomacEdison
• West Penn Power: @W_Penn_Power

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence.  Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York.  Visit FirstEnergy on the web at www.firstenergycorp.com, and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.