FirstEnergy Advocates for Relaxed Reliability Rules Amid Rising Outages
Amid increasing outages, FirstEnergy is advocating for more leniency in reliability regulations for its Ohio utilities. The company seeks approval from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) for Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., Ohio Edison, and Toledo Edison to extend restoration times and allow for slightly more frequent outages for their customers.
Proposed Changes to Reliability Standards
FirstEnergy’s request comes in light of recent severe weather patterns impacting the electric grid, leading to more blackouts. The deadline for public comments on this request is set for December 8, following a significant increase in electricity rates for many customers in northeast Ohio.
- Utilities involved: Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co., Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison.
- Comments deadline: December 8.
- Upcoming evidentiary hearing: January 21.
Impact on Consumers
Consumer advocates are voicing strong concerns regarding these proposed changes. Maureen Willis, head of the Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, highlighted that relaxing reliability standards may compromise the health and safety of consumers. She pointed out that customers have already invested substantial amounts for grid improvements and should not bear additional burdens from service disruptions.
Rising Outages and Climate Factors
A report by Climate Central indicates a disturbing upward trend in blackouts connected to extreme weather events. An analysis revealed that between 2014 and 2023, the U.S. experienced nearly twice as many blackouts as in the previous decade, from 2000 to 2009. Furthermore, the average duration of outages has risen significantly, now totaling an average of 12.8 hours as of mid-2025, marking a nearly 60% increase since 2022.
Previous Regulatory Changes
Ohio regulators have previously considered less strict reliability standards for utilities like AES Ohio and Duke Energy Ohio. These decisions often required utilities to invest in infrastructure upgrades to improve reliability.
Climate Change and Reliability Standards
Utilities in other states, including New York, have also sought exemptions from certain reliability metrics due to weather-related challenges. In contrast, FirstEnergy’s request is noteworthy given its historically slow transition to clean energy solutions, which are essential for enhancing grid reliability and reducing outages.
The company’s reliance on fossil fuels amid climate change has led to increased emissions, exacerbating the very issues it cites in its request for relaxed standards. FirstEnergy’s application to the PUCO was submitted last December amidst several ongoing legal and regulatory challenges.
Future Outlook
FirstEnergy proposes that reliability standards should be based on an average of the previous five years, with allowances for variability, especially concerning weather. Victoria Petryshyn, an environmental studies professor, emphasized the link between climate change and increased demand on the energy grid. She noted that extreme temperature fluctuations in both summer and winter add stress to electrical systems.
The ongoing discourse around FirstEnergy’s proposed changes raises important questions about the balance between reliable service, environmental responsibility, and customer welfare in the face of climate change.
