Evening Sun Senator Mastriano demands accountability from Met-Ed for prolonged power outages
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Senator Mastriano demands accountability from Met-Ed for prolonged power outages
June 29, 2025 by Community Contributors
Senator Doug Mastriano is calling on Met-Ed and its parent company, FirstEnergy, to take immediate action in response to recent power outages that left many Franklin and Adams County residents without electricity for days.
In a strongly worded public statement and formal letter to FirstEnergy CEO Brian X. Tierney, Mastriano criticized the utility provider for repeated and extended outages, which he said have caused serious hardship for thousands of customers.
“It’s pure insanity what residents have been dealing with lately,” said Mastriano, who represents Pennsylvania’s 33rd Senatorial District. “I’ve been in contact with Met-Ed, pushing hard for a one-month credit on electric bills for customers affected by these repeated outages. So far, they’ve pushed back—but I’m not backing down.”
Beyond seeking blanket bill credits, the senator is now pressing the company to reimburse affected customers for tangible losses such as spoiled food and emergency expenses. “It’s the right thing to do,” he said. “You deserve accountability—and I will keep fighting to make sure you get it.”
In his letter to FirstEnergy headquarters in Akron, Ohio, Mastriano said the outages—some lasting up to five days—were caused by equipment failures and described them as “unacceptable disruptions to daily life” that were both costly and dangerous. He emphasized the impact on families, seniors, and small businesses, citing lost wages and compromised health and safety.
Mastriano urged FirstEnergy to adopt a customer compensation policy similar to those used by utilities in the U.K. and by PG&E in California, which provide automatic bill credits for outages lasting longer than 48 hours. He also demanded that the company:
Publicly disclose the infrastructure failures that led to the outages
Present a plan to prevent future occurrences
Invest in long-term modernization and reliability upgrades
“Utility customers should not have to beg for fairness or transparency,” Mastriano wrote. “It is the duty of service providers to uphold public trust—especially during times of crisis.”
The senator concluded his letter with a warning that if corrective action is not taken swiftly, he will pursue legislative remedies. He requested a formal response from FirstEnergy within 10 business days.
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