FirstEnergy Encourages West Virginia Customers to Arrange Payment Plans and Bill Assistance to Avoid Unmanageable Balances

FAIRMONT, W.Va., Aug. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Residential and business customers of FirstEnergy Corp.'s (NYSE: FE) Mon Power and Potomac Edison utilities who are having difficulty making ends meet are encouraged to contact their utility now to enroll in payment plans or bill assistance programs. While shutoffs for nonpayment are temporarily suspended due to the pandemic, establishing an affordable payment arrangement or obtaining assistance can help keep balances manageable during this difficult time.

"We understand many customers are in a difficult financial situation because of the pandemic," said Michelle Henry, vice president of customer service at FirstEnergy. "Customers who have lost income during this crisis may be eligible for assistance that was unavailable to them before, but some of those programs might not be available later, when overdue balances must be addressed."

Customer service representatives are available to assist residential customers with manageable payment arrangements and can provide customers with information on needs-based assistance programs. These programs may help customers avoid a large bill that would otherwise be due when the temporary suspension on shutoffs ends.

Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers in West Virginia may be eligible for one or more of the following assistance programs:

    --  Dollar Energy Fund is an emergency hardship fund designed to help
        residential customers who have suffered a recent financial hardship and
        need temporary help in paying their electric bill. Program funding is
        provided by FirstEnergy customers, employees, shareholders and other
        sources. The distribution of funds is administered by community-based
        organizations throughout Mon Power and Potomac Edison's West Virginia
        service territory. For information contact Mon Power or Potomac Edison.
        The online application process, along with a list of local Dollar Energy
        agencies, is available at the Dollar Energy Application Process.


    --  West Virginia Emergency Assistance Program is administered by the West
        Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) to help
        eligible customers avoid termination of electric service. Emergency
        Assistance is a one-time payment that is applied to the customer's
        account. Customers must present a disconnect notice at the county DHHR
        office. For information call 304-558-0684 or find a local DHHR office
        here Department of Health & Human Resources Agency Finder.


    --  West Virginia 20 Percent Discount Program is administered by the West
        Virginia DHHR, Office of Family Support, and can reduce a low-income
        customers' utility bill by 20 percent from November to March. Eligible
        customers can obtain applications from the DHHR and send the completed
        forms to: Mon Power/Potomac Edison, 20 Percent Discount Program, 5001
        NASA Blvd., Fairmont, WV, 26554. Applicants can also call 304-558-0684
        for additional information.
    --  211 is a nationwide resource and information helpline that identifies
        locally available programs that may assist customers with utility bills
        or other needs. For more information dial 211, visit www.wv211.org or
        text your ZIP code to 898211.

For additional program information, please visit firstenergycorp.com/billassist.

FirstEnergy's utilities also have established a customer service team dedicated to assisting business and commercial customers. This team can provide helpful information on available assistance programs and offer payment arrangements if needed. To explore these programs, please contact your utility company and ask to speak with a member of the Small Business Team. West Virginia utility customer service numbers are:

    --  Mon Power            1-800-736-3407
    --  Potomac Edison    1-800-736-3401

Mon Power serves about 385,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power at www.mon-power.com, on Twitter @MonPowerWV, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MonPowerWV.

Potomac Edison serves about 137,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at www.potomacedison.com, on Twitter @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.