In the ongoing saga of power outages plaguing Lakewood and parts of Cleveland, recent developments suggest a new chapter is unfolding. Leaders from these Ohio communities received a response from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio regarding the disruptive service interruptions attributed to FirstEnergy Corp. An official investigation into the power outages has been initiated by PUCO, in direct response to the outcry from both municipal and community figures.
Lakewood Mayor Meghan F. George, along with Cleveland City Councilmen Brian Kazy and Charles Slife, had earlier composed a joint letter demanding that PUCO address the outages by initiating an inquiry, and now their call has been answered. The Chair of PUCO, Jennifer French, in a statement obtained by the City of Lakewood's official website, expressed her concern and commitment to the issue, "We share and appreciate the concerns outlined in your letter [and] I take the concerns in your letter very seriously," French stated. The assurance of PUCO's engagement with the situation brings a measure of relief to these local lawmakers, as they continue to vocalize the needs and frustrations of their constituents.
Recognizing this step forward, Mayor George expressed her gratitude to Chair French and the PUCO for their prompt response and dedication to the investigation. Mayor George said in a statement obtained by the City of Lakewood, "I was encouraged by Chair French's quick response and the clear commitment from PUCO to investigate, report out, and follow up on the situation." Nevertheless, Mayor George also emphasized the immediacy of the issue and the need for FirstEnergy to take action in the interim, while PUCO's investigation unfolds. This matter is urgent and demands immediate action, in her words, insisting on continued efforts to hold FirstEnergy accountable.
In pursuance of immediate resolutions, Mayor George and her administration will orchestrate a meeting with key figures from FirstEnergy to demand explicit commitments on prompt and enduring solutions to service reliability. To bolster their case, Mayor George also encourages affected FirstEnergy customers to file individual complaints, as each report contributes to the broader documentation of the power disruptions; she expressed her appreciation to those who have already filed complaints, her sentiment reflecting a collective aspiration for improved service and responsiveness from their utility provider.
