First Energy Corp.'s subsidiary, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), has taken a significant step towards boosting service reliability. The company announced the commencement of electric grid enhancement work in Morris County. This is part of a larger $95 million project, the New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project, which is expected to be completed in October 2025. The project is in line with the company's rate review settlement approved earlier this year by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Commitment to Customer Service

Doug Mokoid, President of FirstEnergy's New Jersey operations, emphasized the company's commitment to providing safe and reliable electric service. He stated that the upgrades under the New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project are specifically targeted at areas where customers have experienced frequent outages in recent years. This shows the company's dedication to addressing the needs of its customers.

Upgrades Along Power Lines

The enhancements will take place along a five-mile stretch of power lines in Chester, Washington, and Roxbury townships, benefiting more than 2,100 JCP&L customers. The project includes efforts to replace existing infrastructure with wires that can carry more electricity and provide more resiliency. Upgrades to fuses, devices, and reclosers will allow for power rerouting in the event of an outage. Additionally, TripSaver devices will be installed to sense temporary abnormalities on power lines. Tree trimming and vegetation removal along power lines will also be carried out to improve the reliability of the grid.

Two-Phase Reliability Improvement

The New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project is a two-phase effort. The first phase, with $95 million in upgrades, is scheduled to be completed over the next three years. This phase focuses on enhancing reliability for customers on high-priority lines selected based on their historic outage data. The second phase of longer-duration projects is targeted for completion by the end of 2028, further strengthening the electric grid in Morris County.