JCP&L Moving Power Lines Underground in Portions of Somerset County

Rhea-AI Summary

JCP&L, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, is executing a $1.75 million power line relocation project in Bernardsville, Somerset County. The project involves moving lines from the New Jersey Transit railroad tracks to Route 202/Mine Brook Road, with 1,500 feet being installed underground and 1,400 feet of new overhead wires being added. The upgrade includes installing stronger wires and supporting regional industrial growth. The project, prompted by accessibility issues and tornado damage in June 2023, will enhance service reliability for customers in Bernardsville and nearby Bedminster Township by providing backup power sources and reducing demand on the Greater Crossroads substation.

Positive

• Infrastructure upgrade worth $1.75 million to enhance service reliability
• Installation of stronger, higher-capacity power lines to improve storm resilience
• Creation of backup power sources improving grid redundancy
• Support for regional industrial growth through power infrastructure expansion

Negative

• None.

Insights

Infrastructure Investment Analyst

This $1.75 million infrastructure upgrade represents a strategic but modest investment for FirstEnergy. The project addresses specific operational challenges while balancing cost efficiency with service reliability improvements. The underground conversion of 1,500 feet of power lines, combined with 1,400 feet of new overhead installations and 1,800 feet of upgraded lines, will enhance grid resilience in a tornado-prone area.

The project's dual benefit of improving maintenance accessibility and creating power redundancy for the Bedminster Township area demonstrates sound infrastructure planning. However, the relatively small scale and localized nature of this investment means its financial impact on FirstEnergy's overall operations will be minimal, though it aligns with the company's broader strategy of targeted grid modernization.

Grid upgrades will also relocate lines away from hard-to-access railroad tracks

HOLMDEL, N.J., Nov. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is relocating and upgrading power lines in portions of Bernardsville, Somerset County, to enhance electric service for customers in Bernardsville and nearby towns. The $1.75 million project is expected to be completed later this month.

The project involves moving a section of power line extending from JCP&L's Bernardsville substation that follows the New Jersey Transit railroad tracks. The current location of the line presents accessibility challenges when repairs or maintenance are needed. A tornado that struck the area in June 2023 also caused significant damage, requiring the lines to be temporarily rerouted and increasing the power demand on nearby substations.

Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy's President, New Jersey: "Moving power lines underground is not a one-size-fits-all solution, especially due to the higher costs. In situations like this, relocating the lines and burying a short segment enhances the benefits for our customers in a practical, cost-responsible manner."

As part of the work:

• The main portion of the power line will be relocated from the railroad tracks to Route 202/Mine Brook Road.
• Approximately 1,500 feet of the new line will be installed underground due to dense trees and difficult terrain along a portion of the corridor.
• An additional 1,400 feet of new overhead wires and poles will also be installed, and 1,800 feet of existing overhead lines upgraded to stronger, thicker wire that can better handle increased capacity and is more resilient during storms.

New, upgraded lines will also be installed to provide power to an industrial area, supporting regional growth.

Once the work is finished this fall, the new line will decrease the demand on power lines from JCP&L's Greater Crossroads substation. This will provide greater redundancy for those lines, improving service reliability for customers in nearby Bedminster Township by providing a backup power source if there was an issue on their primary line.

JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Follow JCP&L on X @JCP_L, on Facebook at facebook.com/JCPandL or online at jcp-l.com.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com.

 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is the cost of JCP&L's Somerset County power line relocation project (FE)?

The power line relocation project in Somerset County costs $1.75 million and is expected to be completed in November 2024.

How many feet of underground power lines is JCP&L installing in Bernardsville?

JCP&L is installing approximately 1,500 feet of underground power lines along Route 202/Mine Brook Road due to dense trees and difficult terrain.

What prompted JCP&L's power line relocation project in Somerset County?

The project was prompted by accessibility challenges along railroad tracks and significant damage caused by a tornado in June 2023, which required temporary line rerouting.

How will the Somerset County power line project benefit JCP&L customers?

The project will improve service reliability by providing backup power sources, reducing substation demand, and installing stronger wires that can better handle increased capacity and storms.