Fulton County Ohio Media

On behalf of the Village of Swanton and its residents and businesses, Administrator Shannon Shulters sent the following letter to local electric utility companies regarding the frequent and damaging power failures the Swanton area has been experiencing since last October and the likely potential of outages going forward:

Date: January 13, 2026 RE: Formal Opposition to Proposed Extended Power Outage Standards and Ongoing Reliability Failures Impacting the Village of Swanton to Whom It May Concern:

On behalf of the Village of Swanton, this letter serves as a formal and public statement of strong opposition to any proposal that would permit longer or more frequent power outages as an acceptable operating standard for electric utilities serving our community.

 Recently, FirstEnergy — the parent company of Toledo Edison — filed a proposal with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio to loosen reliability standards. This proposal would allow restored outages to take longer and would permit customers to experience outages more often, based on adjusted reliability metrics the utility has asked regulators to adopt.  Background & Context According to reporting on the proposal, FirstEnergy is seeking approval to alter outage response standards — including increasing the amount of time utilities are expected to restore power (effectively permitting longer outages) and allowing for more frequent service interruptions. The company has cited challenges such as weather impacts and aging infrastructure as justification for this request.

While utilities may face operational pressures, the Village of Swanton and its residents cannot accept weaker reliability expectations — especially given what we have endured over the past several months. Swanton’s Experience Since October 10 Since October 10, Swanton has suffered from repeated substation failures and extended power outages that have severely disrupted daily life and economic activity. These outages have continued through the present and have dramatically impacted municipal operations, local businesses, and residents across all demographics. Impact on Village Infrastructure Repeated and prolonged outages have disrupted critical public infrastructure, including: • Water treatment and wastewater systems • Traffic control and public safety communications • Municipal operations that protect public health and emergency response.

These systems are foundational to resident well-being and public safety. The reliability of electric service is not optional — it is necessary to ensure basic services function without undue risk. Impact on Local Businesses, both small and large businesses within Swanton, have been negatively affected:

• Loss of revenue due to forced closures or reduced operating hours • Equipment damage and spoilage tied to unstable power conditions • Higher operational costs from emergency generators and recovery expenses. Many small businesses operate on thin margins and cannot absorb repeat financial hits caused by prolonged power interruptions.  

Impact on Residents:  The consequences for residents have been equally significant: • Families have incurred losses from food spoilage and property damage • Vulnerable populations, including the elderly and medically dependent, have been put at risk during outages • Winter weather and cold temperatures further compounding the hardship.

Position of the Village of Swanton:  The Village of Swanton formally and unequivocally opposes any regulatory change that would relax reliability or restoration standards, effectively normalizing longer or more frequent outages. Proposals that set lower expectations for electric service reliability are incompatible with the fundamental needs of our community.  

We call on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, state representatives, and the utility companies to:  1. Reject proposals that reduce reliability standards and permit longer outages.  2. Require FirstEnergy and its subsidiaries to explain the root causes of persistent outages impacting Swanton.  3. Prioritize infrastructure improvements and investments that enhance grid resilience for all customers.  4. Engage directly with affected communities before advancing changes to utility reliability obligations.

The Village of Swanton stands with its residents and business owners in demanding dependable and safe electric service. While we recognize the operational challenges utilities may face, community health, safety, and economic stability must remain the paramount consideration in any regulatory decision.  Any plan that effectively lowers the bar for reliability not only undermines public trust but places our citizens at risk — a result we cannot accept.

Respectfully,

Shannon Shulters Administrator Village of Swanton

Cc: Toledo Edison / FirstEnergy, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, The Ohio House of Representatives and Senators, Office of the Governor Mike DeWine, Members of the Media, Village of Swanton Council Members & Mayor