AKRON, Ohio, Nov. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) utilities are closely monitoring wind conditions today across the companies' service areas. Heavy winds are hitting Ohio and Pennsylvania and are anticipated for West Virginia, Maryland and New Jersey later today, with gusts expected to reach 60 mph in some areas.

"Our utilities are prepared and staffed today for duty across our service territories to deal quickly with any wind-related system outages," said Steve Strah, vice president of Distribution Support for FirstEnergy's utilities. "We've mobilized accordingly to minimize the number and length of any outages."

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

Winds entered Ohio from the west this morning, and will be making their way east all day, with arrival expected after nightfall in New Jersey. Crews will be dispatched as quickly as possible throughout the day to repair any damage and restore all affected customers to service as quickly and safely as possible.

Customers are reminded to keep clear of any downed lines, and to always assume a downed line is carrying power, even if it looks like it's not. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris.

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.

Customers of FirstEnergy's utilities 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 service to report outages and receive updates on reported outages. Text REG to 544487 (LIGHTS) to get started.

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

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. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.