Latest news with #FirstEnergy
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Why a helicopter will be flying over central Pennsylvania
MIFFLIN COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A helicopter will be flying low over parts of central Pennsylvania soon as part of an effort to prevent power outages. A FirstEnergy subsidiary is using an aerial saw to trim trees along high voltage lines in the company's PenElec service area. The company says the work began recently and is expected to be done by the end of the year. This work is being done in numerous Pennsylvania counties, including Mifflin, Huntingdon, and Centre counties, as well as Bedford, Blair, Bradford, Cambria,, Clearfield, Elk, McKean, Potter Somerset, Tioga, Warren, Westmoreland, and Wyoming counites. 'Keeping our high-voltage power lines clear of potential interference from trees is an important part of maintaining system reliability,' John Hawkins, FirstEnergy President, Pennsylvania, said. 'The aerial saw is a specialized tool that allows us to cover hundreds of transmission miles every year in a safe, efficient manner.' The helicopter comes equipped with a saw on a boom suspended below. It is able to trim trees along transmission lines the company says are inaccessible to bucket trucks or other vehicles or are in environmentally sensitive areas. They can cover more area in a day than a ground crew might in a week, FirstEnergy says. Download the abc27 News+ app on your Roku, Amazon Fire TV Stick, and Apple TV devices Maintaining clearances between lines and trees helps prevent power outages, the company says. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Bugging Ohio! Right now it's midges —what's next!?
CLEVELAND (WJW) – What's bugging Ohio? Well, right now, it's midges! But, bug-fearing northeast Ohioans better buckle up! Summer is just getting underway. Still ahead — cicadas, mayflies, and more! PHOTOS: Ohio insects so close — your eyes will bug. YIKES! Recently, swarms of midges have been spotted on cars, homes, light poles, and just about anything near Lake Erie. Even 'clouds' of the generally harmless insects have been seen flying across the sky. The good news? Midge season typically peaks in late May or early June, which means it'll be over soon. Swarms of noisy cicadas are expected to emerge soon in southwest Ohio. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources reports that the periodical cicadas are a unique group and differ from annual cicadas. Swarms of the bugs can certainly be unsettling for some, but experts emphasize that cicadas are harmless to people and pets. They're expected to emerge when the soil temperature reaches 64 degrees, which typically happens in the second half of May. The insects will remain active for three to four weeks as they search for a mate. CLICK HERE to learn more about what their names implies, Mayflies typically arrive in Northeast Ohio in late June. Communities along Lake Erie are already bracing for the mass arrival of the light-loving insects. Last week, FirstEnergy announced that to help deter the bugs and keep roads safe, streetlights in select communities will be temporarily turned off. In years past, huge swarms of mayflies have been captured on FOX 8 radar arriving on the shores of Lake Erie. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FirstEnergy Foundation Brightens Communities, Providing More Than $2M to Transformative Nonprofits in First Half of 2025
Company seeks new FirstEnergy Foundation leader following recent retirement of Lorna Wisham AKRON, Ohio, May 29, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) announced today that the FirstEnergy Foundation has distributed more than $2 million in the first two quarters of 2025 to support local nonprofits. Organizations were selected based on their ongoing efforts to meet the critical needs of our customers in communities served by the company's electric companies and in areas where the company conducts business. The FirstEnergy Foundation granted nearly $1.1 million to support a range of community needs, including hunger relief, youth education and disaster relief efforts. Additionally, the employee-driven United Way Campaign generated more than $1 million with strong support from company leadership. More than 800 organizations received direct donations, and 104 United Way agencies benefited from the company's matching contributions. Beyond providing grants to local nonprofits, the FirstEnergy Foundation encourages employees to give back to their local communities and provides support in helping employees make a larger impact. FirstEnergy provides each of its employees with 16 hours of volunteer time off (VTO) annually, allowing team members to donate their time and talents to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations. So far this year, FirstEnergy employees have donated nearly 5,000 volunteer hours to brighten communities across the company's footprint. Search for New FirstEnergy Foundation Leader FirstEnergy is seeking a new leader for the FirstEnergy Foundation following the recent retirement of Lorna Wisham, who served as Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Community Involvement and President of the FirstEnergy Foundation since September 2018. The new leader will work closely with FirstEnergy leadership to establish giving priorities that promote community vitality and align with FirstEnergy's business strategy and commitment to customers. Amanda Mertens Campbell, Vice President of External Affairs, is serving as interim leader of the FirstEnergy Foundation while the company works to fill the role. Those interested in FirstEnergy Foundation grant opportunities and the company's commitment to their communities can learn more at The FirstEnergy Foundation provides support to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofits that serve and meet the critical needs of our customers in communities served by FirstEnergy's electric operating companies and in areas where the company conducts business. FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving over 6 million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
FirstEnergy continues effort to raise prices as Ohio repeals scandal-ridden bill
Smart energy meter. (Stock photo via Getty Images) While energy prices are set to jump this summer, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law that could provide some relief — eliminating a subsidy from the scandal-ridden Ohio House Bill 6 that requires ratepayers to fund unprofitable coal plants. As this happens, utility companies are moving to increase consumers' bills. Back in 2019, Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder took and funneled $61 million worth of bribes in exchange for legislation to give utility company FirstEnergy a $1 billion bailout, named H.B. 6, all at ratepayers' expense. In March 2023, a jury found that Householder and former GOP leader Matt Borges, beyond a reasonable doubt, participated in the racketeering scheme that left four men guilty and two dead. In late June that year, federal judge Timothy Black sentenced Householder to 20 years in prison. Borges got five years for his role in the scheme, but most importantly, he attempted to bribe Tyler Fehrman, an FBI whistleblower, with $15,000 to help kill a repeal effort he was working on. On video, Borges told Fehrman that if he told anyone about the bribe, he would 'blow up' his house. While some of H.B. 6 was overturned already, ratepayers have been paying a subsidy that funds two Ohio Valley Electric Corporation coal plants — one in Southern Ohio and one in Indiana. The main beneficiaries for OVEC are American Electric Power Company (AEP), Duke Energy and AES Ohio. Still, FirstEnergy collects payment for it. But with the swipe of a pen — consumers will likely see their bills go down. DeWine signed a massive energy overhaul bill, H.B. 15, on Friday. It repeals the OVEC charges. A study commissioned by the Ohio Manufacturers' Association found that in 2024 alone, these subsidies cost ratepayers roughly $200 million. The company lost more than $100 million the same year, so consumers are paying for plants that aren't profitable. Consumers can expect to save between $1.30 and $1.50 per month, depending on their utility provider, according to the Energy News Network. The subsidies may not seem like a lot every month, but they add up when inflation is high and people struggle. 'It makes a difference, especially in today's day and age with a kind of shaky economy and folks trying to just make ends meet,' Fehrman said. While this will save citizens a bit of money, Householder attorney Scott Pullins argues that this will hurt the rural areas it serves. 'They are major high-paying jobs in the area, and the kind of area where there aren't very many high-paying jobs,' Pullins said about the plant jobs. 'They generate a whole boatload of taxes for schools in those areas. And if those plants get shut down, it's going to be devastating for those communities.' The Ohio plant employs many Ohioans, he added. But now, this may embolden utility companies to ask for more rate hikes, he said. This is already happening. 'Our electric grid needs to be modernized,' Pullins said. 'I'm assuming that those are where those costs are going. I think we do need a robust regulatory scheme to make sure these companies aren't wasting these funds.' FirstEnergy is now petitioning the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) to raise its prices — a $190 million increase in its charges. If approved, the Ohio Consumers' Counsel estimated that Cleveland Illuminating Company consumers will see a $13 price increase per month, Ohio Edison will have a $3 spike, and Toledo Edison at $1.50. On Monday, DeWine said he doesn't have an opinion on the price increases. 'As far as the raising of bills, ultimately, as you know, this is up to the PUCO,' he said. Fehrman said this shouldn't be allowed. 'There is this massive scandal where these companies tried to put a larger burden on the backs of every single Ohioan,' he said. 'And now, they're asking for more money in a time when folks are already struggling.' The bill will go into effect in 90 days. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Travel Safely on Ohio's Lakeshore Roads During Mayfly Season
Ohio Edison to suspend streetlight service in some areas to deter flies from gathering AKRON, Ohio, May 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As communities along Lake Erie brace for the mass arrival of mayflies this summer, FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) is proactively working with local municipalities to keep lakeshore roads safe. Since mayflies are attracted to light, temporarily turning off streetlights can help deter swarms of insects and prevent hazardous driving conditions. The annual emergence of the mayflies typically comes in late June and can last until September. In preparation for their arrival, Ohio Edison will begin to suspend streetlight service along several roads in Port Clinton, Marblehead and Erie Township for several weeks. The company will resume streetlight service once the hatching season ends. Torrence Hinton, President of FirstEnergy Ohio: "Mayflies pose a significant safety concern due to the oily residue their carcasses leave behind, which can make road surfaces extremely slick, particularly during rain. By turning off streetlights near the lake over the next few months, we aim to deter thousands, if not millions, of mayflies from gathering, enhancing road safety for everyone." Mayflies start their lives deep in the mud of Lake Erie and are especially sensitive to depleted oxygen levels. When the insects emerge from the water as adults, they live between 24 and 72 hours, which is why their hatching season is short. "We understand the critical role our streetlight service plays in the communities we serve, and ensuring safety is our utmost priority," said Hinton. "We will resume streetlight service in the affected areas as soon as it is safe to do so." Pedestrians and bikers are reminded to use extra caution when traveling along unlit roads this summer. They are urged to always use sidewalks and crosswalks and wear bright clothing or flashing devices to alert drivers of their presence. Drivers are reminded to reduce their speed in unlit areas and be on the lookout for people walking or biking in the area. If a customer notices a streetlight or outdoor area light is out in their community unintentionally, they are encouraged to report it to Ohio Edison online at or by calling 1-800-633-4766. Ohio Edison serves more than 1 million customers across 34 Ohio counties. Follow Ohio Edison on X @OhioEdison and on Facebook at FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving more than six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at and on X @FirstEnergyCorp. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
