FirstEnergy briefs Akron public service committee on streetlight reporting and possible LED conversion

FirstEnergy told Akrons Public Service Committee the company is working with the city to identify and repair streetlights and that a pending Public Utilities Commission of Ohio rate case could change how replacements happen.

Amy Hopkins, who covers the Ohio Edison territory, told committee members residents may report outages through the citys 311 system or directly at firstenergycorp.com. She recommended callers provide the closest address or nearest intersection (and a pole number if available) to help linemen locate fixtures in wooded or unaddressed sections.

Hopkins said FirstEnergy is awaiting PUCO approval of a rate case the company expects in November; if approved, it could eliminate the ESIP special-rate program in Ohio Edison territory and prompt a replacement program that converts high-pressure-sodium and other older fixtures to LED. She said replacements could occur on a "replace-upon-failure" basis or as a neighborhood-wide "blitz," and that the company will coordinate lumen levels and placement with city engineering.

Councilmembers asked how to request new lights on dark streets; Service Director Chris Luddle said requests should go through the citys engineering bureau (or 311) so staff can determine pole placement, permitting and whether a new pole is required. Hopkins and city staff discussed how restoration work can be complicated when direct-burial wiring is damaged during other contractors work and that some post lights are more fragile than older, conduit-protected wiring.

The committee took no formal legislative action based on the briefing; members asked staff to follow up on 311-to-FirstEnergy fax timing and continue coordination on LED conversions and neighborhood requests.