Wednesday, April 2, 2025 • Vol. 17 No. 23 • FREE
CEI May Consolidate, Abandon Local Yard By Ann Wishart ann@karlovecmedia.com The Illuminating Company is planning to shutter its line shop in the Village of Middlefield, a move that could diminish service levels for the community. “To ensure responsible resource management moving forward, the Illuminating Company is considering the consolidation of operations currently handled at the Middlefield line shop with at least one other nearby service center,” FirstEnergy spokesperson Hannah Catlett told the Geauga County Maple Leaf in a March 28 email. “Over the past decade, FirstEnergy and
The Illuminating Company have invested significant funds and resources to strengthen the electric grid in Middlefield. These improvements, including a new substation completed in 2012, have helped prevent or minimize the impact of power outages for hundreds of customers and businesses in the area, especially during severe weather.” Middlefield Village Mayor Ben Garlich said he was sorry to learn The Illuminating Company — a FirstEnergy subsidiary and commonly abbreviated as CEI — may no longer operate out of its line shop on West High Street, located behind the Subway fast food restaurant. He See CEI • Page 3
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The Cleveland Electric Illuminating line shop behind the Subway fast food restaurant on West High Street in Middlefield Village may soon be available as the company looks to consolidate its repair crews to a facility in Concord Township.
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