FirstEnergy Solutions, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. announced Friday a recently proposed surcharge associated with January's polar vortex will be waived for its residential customers.  The one-time, $5 to $15 per customer surcharge would have appeared on customers' May, June or July bills.

"It was a very difficult winter, particularly for residential customers, and hopefully waiving the surcharge will make it somewhat easier," said Donald R. Schneider, president of FirstEnergy Solutions. "Even though our contracts allow us to pass through surcharges, we have decided we won't seek reimbursement from residential customers for the added costs."

During the January polar vortex, PJM Interconnection (PJM) – the regional transmission organization that coordinates reliability and wholesale electricity in our region – initiated emergency procedures that included the purchase of reserve electric generation to keep the electric system operational throughout these severe conditions. 

Costs associated with the purchase were invoiced by PJM to all retail suppliers serving customers throughout the region, and certain contracts allowed those costs to be passed through to customers at the discretion of the supplier.

FirstEnergy Solutions provides competitive electric generation supply and other energy-related products and services to more than 2.7 million customers, and is a licensed supplier in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Michigan and Illinois.

NewsClips:

50K Electric Customers Flip Switch After Price Swings

Winter Electric Bill Spikes Drive 50K To Local Suppliers

4/28/2014