Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has commenced a project aimed at upgrading both overhead and underground electric services in parts of Sussex County, New Jersey. This $5.1 million initiative is expected to conclude by November.
The construction will occur along a power line originating from a JCP&L substation located in the Landing section of Roxbury Township. The project is set to benefit approximately 1,700 customers residing in Roxbury, Mount Arlington in western Morris County, and Hopatcong in southern Sussex County.
Doug Mokoid, President of FirstEnergy’s New Jersey operations, stated: “Our teams have worked diligently to plan projects like selective undergrounding and robust overhead upgrades that make a positive impact on service reliability for our customers. This work will help us better meet the current and future electric needs of these communities.”
As part of the upgrade efforts, the project includes enhanced tree trimming along with several infrastructure improvements:
– Installation of about 2,000 feet of underground wires in Roxbury Township.
– Upgrading existing infrastructure with thicker poles and overhead wires designed to handle more electricity and provide greater resilience during storms.
– Increasing protective devices and reclosers to allow rerouting of power during outages, minimizing customer impact.
– Installing TripSaver devices that automatically restore power after temporary disruptions without needing crew intervention.
This undertaking forms part of JCP&L’s New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project. It represents the first phase of a two-phase effort targeting high-priority lines based on historical outage data. The initial phase involves at least $95 million in upgrades over three years.
The project is also integrated into Energize365, FirstEnergy’s broader grid evolution program which plans to invest $26 billion between 2024 and 2028 across its six-state operational area to develop a smarter and more secure electrical grid.
JCP&L provides service to 1.1 million customers across various counties including Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren.
FirstEnergy focuses on integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence within its extensive electric distribution network serving over six million customers across Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York.
For further information or inquiries:
News Media Contact: Chris Hoenig at (609) 350-8599
Investor Contact: Karen Sagot at (330) 761-4286
