High Winds Cause Power Outages Across Erie Region

Utility crews work to restore electricity after downed lines and equipment failures

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:04pm

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Utility crews have been responding to widespread power outages across the Erie region, working to identify the cause and restore electricity to affected homes and businesses. Officials say the outages are primarily due to high winds that have brought down trees and power lines, causing damage to electrical equipment.

Why it matters

Power outages can have significant impacts on communities, disrupting daily life, affecting businesses, and posing risks to vulnerable populations. Prompt restoration of electricity is crucial, especially during severe weather events.

The details

According to Will Boyle, the Senior Communications Representative for First Energy, the main cause of the outages is the high winds, which have brought down trees and branches onto power lines and equipment. Tim May, a Harborcreek supervisor, noted that the lakeshore area has seen the most significant damage, with large maple trees falling across roads and onto power lines.

  • The outages began around 11:30 PM last night (March 15, 2026).
  • Crews have been working throughout the day (March 16, 2026) to restore power.

The players

Penelec

The local utility company responsible for providing electricity to the Erie region.

First Energy

The parent company of Penelec, which provides additional support and resources during major outages.

Tim May

A supervisor in Harborcreek, a municipality in the Erie region.

Will Boyle

The Senior Communications Representative for First Energy.

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What they’re saying

“It's these high winds, they can be damaging because they bring down trees and branches on our lines, on our equipment. And that's the main culprit, that's what really the main source of outages during severe weather.”

— Will Boyle, Senior Communications Representative (yourerie.com)

“The lakeshore is where most of the damage has been, really. That's where the larger trees have been down, and we're just addressing calls as they come in, started for us about 11:30 last night, but we're keeping in touch with our three local volunteer fire departments.”

— Tim May, Harborcreek Supervisor (yourerie.com)

What’s next

Penelec has brought in 3,000 outside line workers to assist in the affected areas, and most counties are now down to 2% or less for the percentage of places without electricity. The utility companies will continue to work to fully restore power as quickly as possible.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of utility companies being prepared for severe weather events and having the resources and personnel ready to respond quickly to power outages. It also underscores the vulnerability of electrical infrastructure to high winds and the need for ongoing maintenance and upgrades to improve grid resilience.