Morris Storm Update: JCP&L President Pledges Around-the-Clock Repair Efforts
Published on March 05, 2018
Additional Linemen, Hazard Assessors and Support Personnel from FirstEnergy Utilities and Electrical Contractors Brought to N.J. to Expedite Repairs to Storm Damage
One of the hardest hit areas in this weekend's storm was JCP&L's northern New Jersey service area, which experienced 60 mph wind gusts and more than a foot of heavy, wet snow. Currently, approximately 90,000 customers remain out of service in Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties.
That includes some 30,000 Morris County customers.
(JPG, 6MB) Downed trees and power lines in Morris Township
More than 1,600 JCP&L linemen, damage assessors, hazard responders, forestry personnel, dispatchers and contractors are working to restore customer outages. In addition, more than 430 line workers from other FirstEnergy utilities and contractors are on-site or in transit to assist with restoration efforts in northern New Jersey.
These crews recently completed work restoring customers in Ohio and West Virginia who lost power because of the winter storm, and were then dispatched to North Jersey.
The high winds were a big challenge to our initial restoration efforts since it was unsafe for our crews to go up in buckets and make repairs,'' said Jim Fakult, president of JCP&L.
(JPG, 5MB) Uprooted tree that crashed into power lines
"Plus, the wet, heavy snow and hundreds of road closures made it almost impossible to travel to some damage locations. JCP&L crews and other personnel will continue to work round-the-clock to make repairs and deploy resources as needed until all customers are restored.
Hazard responders investigate downed wires and inspect damage locations to determine what equipment might be needed to make repairs. Helicopters and aerial drones also are being used to inspect damaged power lines, especially in more remote areas.
JCP&L expects the majority of customers to be restored to service by late Tuesday. However, some customers in the hardest hit areas of northern Morris County and Sussex County will not have power restored until late Wednesday night.
To handle the influx of outside workers, JCP&L has set up a staging site at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. A JCP&L mobile command center also has been set up at the fairgrounds to direct the outside workers to where they are most needed.
To get up-to-date information on the repair work progress, follow JCP&L on Twitter @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL or online at www.jcp-l.com
JCP&L reminds customers to immediately report downed wires to their utility at 888LIGHTSS
(888-544-4877), or to their local police or fire department.