Lakewood Mayor George, Lakewood City Officials, and Cleveland Councilman Kazy Meet with FirstEnergy to Discuss Improving Electrical Infrastructure and Communication

LAKEWOOD, OH – Mayor Meghan F. George and members of her leadership team joined Cleveland City Councilman Brian Kazy (Ward 16), Lakewood Council President Sarah Kepple, and State Representative Tristan Rader today in a meeting with FirstEnergy decision makers to demand solutions on the chronic power failures affecting Lakewood and Cleveland’s west side neighborhoods.

During the meeting, FirstEnergy acknowledged that the issues do not stem from weather events, accidents, or acts of God, but are instead due to issues with FirstEnergy equipment and infrastructure. In response to the elected officials’ demand for a plan on solving the issues, FirstEnergy committed to over $3 million in repairs and improvements to the substations serving Lakewood and Cleveland, including the replacement of a transformer and new breakers. FirstEnergy also pledged to increase inspections of its equipment in the area and to maintain a mobile substation at its southern Lakewood facility until the upgrades are completed. Finally, FirstEnergy committed to improving communication with local government and the public on these matters moving forward.

“While their track record of failure to our community does not give me much faith in FirstEnergy, I was glad to leave the meeting with clear commitments from them that PUCO can hold them accountable to,” said Mayor George. “We will keep the pressure on FirstEnergy to meet these commitments and we will also continue following up with PUCO on their own independent investigation of these chronic power outages.”