Sam Melden

Statement from Council Member Sam Melden - District 5:

“This weekend thousands of residents of the City of Toledo, and in particular, residents of District 5, are being robbed. First Energy is keeping us in the literal dark, and freezing us out with no information and terrible service.

We pay higher and higher energy rates, and we get no explanation what is really going on.

Since a wind storm Friday afternoon power has been out for so many of our neighbors, and after an entire weekend of our lives being upended, we get a robo-call on Sunday night saying power is “expected” to be restored by 11pm on Monday March 16th. This is pathetic. But it’s not just terrible customer service… it’s dangerous. I’ve spoken to vulnerable neighbors who rely on their electricity to keep vital in-home medical equipment running, wheelchairs charged, and access to food and hygiene accessible.

I’m calling on First Energy to not only restore service before their latest “estimated time” but make these residents whole. The food they’ve had to discard, the plans they’ve had to abandon, the risk to their personal health and well-being come at a cost. We pay that cost in our electric bill. First Energy has failed Toledoans. Fix it!”

Firstenergy Toledo Edison