Warren City Council members are scheduled to vote Wednesday on a resolution that formally opposes a proposal by FirstEnergy Corp. to change its electric reliability standards. The legislation urges state regulators to reject the utility's request, which critics argue would lead to more frequent and longer power outages for residents.

The resolution comes as the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, or PUCO, reviews an application from FirstEnergy’s Ohio utilities, including Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating, and Toledo Edison. If approved by the state, the proposal would establish new company-specific minimum reliability performance standards.

Local officials in Warren state that the city depends on safe and reliable electric service to protect public health and support the economy. The proposed city resolution claims the utility's plan would weaken existing benchmarks by diluting performance metrics and expanding exceptions for service failures.

FirstEnergy representatives argue that the current standards were developed several years ago and no longer reflect modern operating conditions. In documents filed with the PUCO, the company stated that its service territories have seen an increase in tree-related outages and heavier rainfall since 2020.

The company's application suggests using reliability data from 2019 through 2023 to set future performance goals. 

Utility spokespeople emphasized that the request to update these standards is not a request to take longer to restore power. They stated the company remains committed to restoring service as quickly and safely as possible. According to the utility, the filing ensures that the benchmarks used to measure their work accurately reflect current system conditions.

The Office of the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, or OCC, which represents residential utility customers, has filed formal comments opposing the changes. The agency noted that FirstEnergy has already charged consumers hundreds of millions of dollars for grid modernization projects intended to improve reliability.

Attorneys for the OCC wrote that despite these significant investments, the utility is asking state regulators to approve weaker standards that offer less protection for consumers. The consumer agency called for PUCO to reject the application, stating that the proposal has caused public concern.

In a recent filing, the OCC noted that more than 80 public comments have been submitted in the case. Several state representatives have also urged the commission to deny the request.

State Rep. Lauren McNally previously sent a letter to the commission arguing that electricity is essential for modern life. She stated that households depend on power for medical equipment, refrigeration, and communications. McNally suggested that the correct response to grid challenges is targeted investment and accountability, rather than a retreat from regulatory standards.

The Warren resolution states that electric reliability standards must prioritize customer protection and public safety. It further argues that these rules should not shift the risk of poor performance from utilities to the people who pay the bills.

If council members approve the resolution on Wednesday, the clerk of council will send certified copies of the document to the PUCO, the Ohio Consumers’ Counsel, and FirstEnergy.

The state commission has scheduled a public hearing on the matter for Feb. 26 at its offices in Columbus. In addition to Warren, other Ohio cities, including Cleveland and Bay Village, have voiced opposition to the utility's proposal.

The council's move follows a summer in 2025 where other Ohio communities experienced notable service disruptions, leading local leaders across the state to intervene in the ongoing regulatory case.