AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With ice and snow expected to affect parts of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey over the next few days, FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) wants customers to be safe particularly if their power should be interrupted.  Here are a few tips for weathering the storm:

• Call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report power outages.  This automated reporting system is the fastest way to let your utility company know that your lights are out.
• Be safe around power lines.  Assume any downed wire is carrying electricity and call your local electric company, police or fire department to report it.
• Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed.  Food will keep for hours if you limit the number of times the doors are opened.
• Never use gas stoves or outdoor heaters to keep your house warm.  These devices can cause the build up of deadly carbon monoxide in your home.
• Use generators safely and according to instructions.  Follow directions for placement of generators and safe electrical connections.  Never connect a generator to your home electrical system without contacting a certified electrician and installing a proper isolation device.  
• Stock up on batteries for flashlights and portable radios.  
• Unplug appliances and electronics until power is restored.  This will help protect your electronics and other sensitive equipment, and ease the initial load on the electrical system when the power is restored.  Leave one light on so that you know when the power is back.  
• Make sure you have at least one corded telephone.  Most cordless phones will not operate properly in a power outage.
• Stay tuned for updates and information from your local and state emergency management agencies.

Be assured that your FirstEnergy electric utility companies – Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Company, Toledo Edison, Metropolitan Edison, Pennsylvania Electric, Pennsylvania Power and Jersey Central Power & Light – are monitoring the emerging weather situation and making appropriate preparations.  Crews will be held over, as needed, and once the storm moves through the area, dispatched to where customers need them.

For more information and tips, as well as maps of current power outages, visit FirstEnergy's website at www.firstenergycorp.com.

FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company headquartered in Akron, Ohio.  Its subsidiaries and affiliates are involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as energy management and other energy-related services.  Its seven electric utility operating companies comprise the nation's fifth largest investor-owned electric system, based on 4.5 million customers served within a 36,100-square-mile area of Ohio, Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and its generation subsidiaries control approximately 13,500 megawatts of capacity.

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.