JCP&L's EnergizeNJ Infrastructure Upgrade Program Approved by New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Rhea-AI Summary

JCP&L, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary, received approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for its EnergizeNJ infrastructure investment program. The company will invest over $202.5 million over 3.5 years starting July 1 to upgrade its electric distribution grid in northern and central New Jersey.

The program includes:

• $20.4 million for Grid Modernization with TripSaver II devices
• $128.9 million for System Resiliency improvements
• Substation Modernization upgrades

Additional investments of $132 million in matching projects are planned, including $18 million for coastal substation components and $9 million for mobile substations. The impact on typical residential customers using 777 kWh monthly will be $0.86 (0.6%) per month. This initiative is part of FirstEnergy's broader Energize365 program, which plans $28 billion in investments between 2025-2029.

Positive

• Secured regulatory approval for $202.5M grid modernization program
• Additional $132M in matching projects secured
• Minimal customer bill impact of only 0.6% monthly
• Potential federal funding could offset customer costs
• Part of larger $28B investment strategy (2025-2029)

Negative

• Incremental rate increases for customers over program duration
• Three-and-a-half year implementation timeline could delay benefits realization

Insights

Utility Regulation Analyst

New Jersey approval of JCP&L's $202.5M grid modernization program supports FirstEnergy's long-term growth with minimal regulatory risk.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has approved JCP&L's $202.5 million EnergizeNJ infrastructure investment program, a significant regulatory achievement for parent company FirstEnergy. The program, starting July 1 and spanning three and a half years, focuses on enhancing grid reliability through smart technology deployment across northern and central New Jersey.

The approval structure includes favorable cost recovery mechanics, allowing JCP&L to charge customers incrementally as work is completed. This creates a predictable revenue stream while minimizing customer bill impacts to just $0.86 per month (0.6%) for typical residential customers, significantly reducing regulatory risk.

Beyond the core EnergizeNJ program, the company will invest an additional $132 million in matching projects, including $18 million for coastal substation upgrades and $9 million for mobile substations. The additional investments strengthen grid resilience while maintaining customer affordability.

The approved program represents a component of FirstEnergy's broader Energize365 initiative, which encompasses $28 billion in planned grid investments between 2025-2029. This regulatory approval provides certainty for a portion of that capital deployment, creating a foundation for stable, long-term infrastructure development in one of FirstEnergy's key service territories.

Grid Technology Expert

JCP&L's smart grid upgrades will significantly reduce outage duration and frequency while enabling better emergency response capabilities.

The EnergizeNJ program represents a comprehensive technical approach to grid modernization, focusing on three critical infrastructure components that will enhance system reliability and operational flexibility.

The $20.4 million Grid Modernization initiative will deploy TripSaver II devices to replace traditional solid fuses. These advanced devices can detect temporary faults, like tree branches contacting lines, and automatically restore service without manual intervention. This technology significantly reduces the number of sustained outages by addressing momentary disruptions that would otherwise require physical inspection and manual restoration.

The more substantial $128.9 million System Resiliency program will optimize circuit configurations and install remotely controlled circuit ties. These upgrades create alternate power delivery routes during outage events, enabling quicker service restoration by redirecting power flow. The remote operability reduces the need for field personnel to physically reroute power, creating operational efficiencies.

The additional investments in coastal substation components ($18 million) and mobile substations ($9 million) demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to climate resilience. Mobile substations provide particularly valuable flexibility during emergency situations, allowing rapid deployment of temporary capacity to maintain service during major outage events or planned maintenance.

More than $202 million in investments planned to upgrade electric grid

HOLMDEL, N.J., April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is set to expand smart grid technology across its northern and central New Jersey service territory following approval from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for its EnergizeNJ infrastructure investment program (IIP).

In accordance with a BPU-approved agreement, JCP&L will invest more than $202.5 million over a three and a half year period starting July 1 to upgrade the company's neighborhood electric distribution grid with an increase in automated and remotely controlled devices.

Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy's President, New Jersey: "JCP&L is committed to making smart, responsible investments in our infrastructure that enhance the reliability our customers expect and deserve as well as the safety of our crews in the field. EnergizeNJ will allow us to reduce the length and number of customers affected by outage events and protect our line workers who are on the front lines of restoring power."

The EnergizeNJ program includes:

• More than $20.4 million in a Grid Modernization initiative that will replace solid fuses along power lines with TripSaver II devices, which can sense temporary abnormalities along power lines, such as a tree branch contacting power lines, and automatically reenergize the line after the condition has passed, as well as remotely controlled devices that allow for faster isolation of damage.
• A System Resiliency program that will invest more than $128.9 million to optimize circuits (or groups of power lines) for added operational flexibility and reliability, install remotely controlled circuit ties that can move customers to neighboring circuits during outage events and modernize devices along power lines.
• Substation Modernization programs designed to upgrade protection relays in substations and install newer, more modern devices that will provide enhanced data on physical substation equipment to operators at JCP&L's control centers.

JCP&L will make additional investments of at least $132 million in matching projects during the program period. These upgrades include more than $18 million to replace vital components at coastal substations susceptible to the effects of salt and nearly $9 million for new mobile substations, which can be moved throughout JCP&L's territory to allow for necessary maintenance or in emergency outage situations.

To further minimize the impact of these upgrades on customer bills, JCP&L will only charge for work as it is completed, resulting in five incremental bill impacts over the life of the program. The total bill impact for a typical JCP&L residential customer, using 777 kWh per month and currently paying $136.37, will be $0.86, or 0.6% per month. As part of the settlement, JCP&L will seek potential federal funding under the Federal Infrastructure and Jobs Act of 2021. Any federal funds awarded to the company will be credited back to customers to offset bill impacts.

EnergizeNJ is part of Energize365, a multi-year grid evolution program focused on transmission and distribution investments that will deliver the power FirstEnergy's customers depend on today while also meeting the challenges of tomorrow. With planned investments of $28 billion between 2025 and 2029, the program is creating a smarter, more secure grid that will meet and exceed reliability targets and accommodate electric vehicles, the electrification of homes and businesses and clean energy sources.

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 more than six million 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

How much will JCP&L's EnergizeNJ program cost FirstEnergy (FE) customers per month?

Typical residential customers using 777 kWh per month will see a $0.86 (0.6%) increase in their monthly bill, which currently averages $136.37.

What is the total investment amount for FirstEnergy's (FE) EnergizeNJ infrastructure program?

The program includes more than $202.5 million in initial investments plus additional matching projects of $132 million, totaling over $334.5 million.

When will FirstEnergy's (FE) EnergizeNJ infrastructure upgrades begin?

The infrastructure upgrade program will begin July 1 and extend over a three-and-a-half-year period.

How many customers will be affected by FirstEnergy's (FE) JCP&L grid modernization?

The program will affect JCP&L's 1.1 million customers across 13 New Jersey counties.

What are the main components of FirstEnergy's (FE) EnergizeNJ program?

The program includes $20.4M for Grid Modernization, $128.9M for System Resiliency, Substation Modernization upgrades, and $132M in matching projects.