Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., has launched a significant project to reduce power outage impacts for over 5,000 customers in northern New Jersey. The initiative, now underway, affects power lines linked to JCP&L's Cozy Lake substation, benefiting residents in Morris, Passaic, and Sussex counties.
Doug Mokoid, President of FirstEnergy, New Jersey, stated, "The investments we are making in these local communities are some of the largest and most extensive enhancements in our New Jersey Reliability Improvement Program. We are taking an all-of-the-above approach to enhancing service reliability by conducting work to address vegetation management, line resiliency, load balancing and incorporating more flexibility and redundancy to our system."
As part of the effort, enhanced tree-trimming is in progress, which includes the removal of diseased and dead trees. The project will also see nearly 11.5 miles of existing infrastructure upgraded with stronger poles and wires, the construction of over three miles of new underground lines, and installation of devices to isolate damage and restore service, such as TripSaver devices.
Moreover, up to 2,400 customers will be transferred to nearby power lines to bring them closer to substations, enhancing load balancing and minimizing outage risks. Certain line sections on Route 23 will be moved closer to the road with the installation of fiberglass poles and crossarms for better resiliency against tree-related outages.
This project is part of JCP&L's New Jersey Reliability Improvement Program, which has $95 million earmarked for upgrades over the next three years. It aligns with Energize365, FirstEnergy's broader grid modernization effort, targeting a $26 billion investment from 2024 to 2028.
JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers across various New Jersey counties, while FirstEnergy utilities serve six million customers in six states.