WILLIAMSPORT, Md., Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is monitoring developing weather conditions and preparing for the season's first significant snowfall, which could blanket Potomac Edison's entire service area in Maryland and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia with up to five inches of snow.

"FirstEnergy meteorologists are monitoring weather conditions closely and we will deploy resources as necessary to wherever the snow might affect Potomac Edison's electric system," said James A. Sears, Jr., president of FirstEnergy's Maryland operations and vice president of Potomac Edison. "Our storm pre-planning, winter-readiness activities, and electrical infrastructure enhancements are designed to reduce the number of weather-related outages our customers could experience and speed the restoration process should outages occur."

Additional crews will be available to work on Thanksgiving Day if needed.

The forecast calls for up to five inches of wet snow throughout Potomac Edison's service area starting early morning Wednesday and continuing through mid-afternoon. Heavy snow can snap tree limbs, damaging power lines and causing outages.

Customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the "Report Outage" link on www.firstenergycorp.com. In the event of severe weather, customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department. Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.

For updated information on Potomac Edison's current outages, FirstEnergy's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.

Potomac Edison customers also can use a free smartphone app to report outages and access important information and services related to their electric accounts. The app is available for Apple(®) iPhone(®) and Android((TM)) smartphones. Customers can use the keyword "FirstEnergy" to locate the apps in the online store.

In addition, customers can use FirstEnergy's text messaging and alert messaging service to report outages and receive updates on reported outages. Text REG to 544487 (LIGHTS) to get started.

Potomac Edison, a FirstEnergy electric distribution company, serves about 250,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and 132,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Visit FirstEnergy on the web at www.firstenergycorp.com, and follow Potomac Edison on Twitter @PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company 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.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.