AKRON, Ohio, Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: [ FE ]) utilities Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), Metropolitan Edison (Met-Ed), and Potomac Edison continue service restoration efforts following a severe snowstorm that left 782,000 customers without power in northern New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia and across Pennsylvania.

Company crews from Ohio and western Pennsylvania were positioned in eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey before the storm began and have been assisting crews throughout the outage event. In addition, restoration efforts in less hard-hit utility service areas including West Penn Power, Penelec and Mon Power were completed overnight, and available crews are being transferred to New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. The current outage totals by utility are as follows:

JCP&L: 235,000, down from 370,000 total customers affected
Met-Ed: 87,000, down from 262,000
Potomac Edison: 18,000, down from 116,000

Based on damage reports, below are preliminary estimates of storm restoration by utility service area:

JCP&L: 95 percent by midnight Thursday, full restoration by midnight Friday
Met-Ed: 95 percent by midnight Friday, remainder through upcoming weekend
Potomac Edison: Full restoration by midnight Wednesday

"More than 4,000 employees, along with additional contractors and neighboring utility crews, are working as quickly and safely as possible to restore power to our customers," said Mark Julian, vice president, Utility Operations, FirstEnergy. "In the meantime, we are communicating with customers, emergency management officials, state and local officials, regulators and the media about the status of restoration efforts."

All available crews are working to restore service and will continue around the clock in 16-hour shifts until the process is completed. FirstEnergy's restoration process is designed to restore power safely and efficiently for affected customers. Crews are focused on responding to hazardous situations and high-priority damage locations, including the transmission and substation facilities that supply power for local distribution systems. Priority is also given to hospitals, critical care and life support facilities, communications facilities, emergency response agencies and circuits serving the largest number of customers, followed by restoration of service to individual homes.

For up-to-date information on the company's restoration efforts, current outages, FirstEnergy's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, go to [ www.firstenergycorp.com ].

During large-scale weather events, FirstEnergy urges all customers to follow the advice and recommendations of emergency management officials. The company also offers the following tips for customers experiencing an outage:

Reporting an Outage

If your lights go out, contact your local electric utility to report an outage. JCP&L and Met-Ed customers should call the automated reporting line at 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877). Potomac Edison customers should call 1-800-255-3443.
Immediately report downed wires to your electric company or local police or fire department. Never go near a downed power line, even if you think it's no longer carrying electricity.
Don't try to remove trees or tree limbs from power lines. Wait for utility crews to arrive.
Since today is Halloween, Trick or Treat is being held in many communities. Parents should be extra watchful of children since wires could be down in some areas.

Safety Tips During Outages

Keep flashlights and fresh batteries in your home. Avoid using candles to light your home, especially around children and pets.
Never use a gas stove, charcoal grill or lantern intended for outdoor use inside your home.
Make sure you have fresh batteries in a portable radio so you can stay tuned to your local radio station for updates on our progress to restore power.

Customer Generators

Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing or wanting uninterrupted service. However, to ensure the safety of the home's occupants as well as that of utility company employees who may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician. When operating a generator, always disconnect the power coming into your home. Otherwise, power from your generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers.

Customers with Wells and Pumps

Keep an emergency supply of bottled water on hand – and consider filling a bathtub with water.
If you have a backup generator, be sure you know how to [ use it safely ].

JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in 13 New Jersey counties; Met-Ed serves 560,000 customers in 13 Pennsylvania counties; Potomac Edison serves approximately 250,000 customers in seven Maryland counties and 135,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia; Mon Power serves 500,000 customers in 47 West Virginia counties; Penelec serves 600,000 customers in 31 Pennsylvania counties; and West Penn Power serves 715,000 customers in 21 Pennsylvania counties.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies comprise the nation's largest investor-owned electric system. Its diverse generating fleet features non-emitting nuclear, scrubbed baseload coal, natural gas, and pumped-storage hydro and other renewables, and has a total generating capacity of nearly 23,000 megawatts.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

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