JCP&L Upgrading Transmission Power Lines in Monmouth County

Rhea-AI Summary

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has begun upgrades on 19 miles of transmission power lines in Monmouth County, New Jersey. The $53 million investment aims to enhance reliability for 50,000 customers. The two projects include replacing older infrastructure and adding redundancy through two independent circuits, improving service continuity. Completion is expected between May and December 2023. These upgrades are part of FirstEnergy's broader $7 billion 'Energizing the Future' initiative, which focuses on modernizing the transmission system and reducing outages.

Positive

• Investment of $53 million in infrastructure upgrades.
• Improved reliability for 50,000 customers in Monmouth County.
• Addition of redundancy through independent circuits to enhance service continuity.
• Part of a $7 billion initiative to modernize transmission systems.

Negative

• None.

New poles, wires and equipment to benefit 50,000 customers

MORRISTOWN, N.J., Nov. 16, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has started construction on two projects that will upgrade 19 miles of transmission power lines in the Monmouth County area, helping enhance reliability for 50,000 customers.

Totaling $53 million in new investments, the projects will replace the existing wires, hardware and structures that have been in place since the 1970s with new poles, wires and equipment to help reinforce the electric grid and prevent or reduce the duration of customer outages.

JCP&L is upgrading nearly six miles of an existing 34.5-kilovolt power line running east from a substation in Middletown Township, New Jersey, to a substation in Union Beach Borough, New Jersey. A second set of wires, known as a circuit, is being installed along the line for redundancy and operational flexibility. Approximately 20,600 customers will benefit from this work, which is expected to be complete in May 2023.

JCP&L is also replacing 13 miles of an existing 34.5-kilovolt line that runs northeast from a substation in Colts Neck Township, New Jersey, to a substation in Matawan Borough, New Jersey, and will reconfigure the line to have two independent circuits. This work is expected to be complete in December 2023 and will benefit 29,200 customers.

For both projects, having two independent circuits allows JCP&L to keep customers in service if one of the circuits is deenergized for maintenance. It will also help reduce outage durations by providing a secondary source of power and additional capacity to serve customer demand.

"These upgrades to our lines and equipment will help to fortify our transmission system and ensure that we can continue to meet the current and future needs of the customers we serve in the Monmouth County area," said Jim Fakult, president of New Jersey Operations for FirstEnergy.

The two projects are part of Energizing the Future, a multi-year, $7 billion initiative designed to upgrade FirstEnergy's transmission system with advanced equipment and technologies that will reinforce the power grid and help reduce the frequency and duration of customer outages. Since 2014, FirstEnergy has upgraded or replaced existing power lines, incorporated smart technology into the grid and upgraded dozens of substations with new equipment and enhanced security features.

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 Twitter @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL or online at www.jcp-l.com.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 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 online at www.firstenergycorp.com and on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What recent projects has FirstEnergy (FE) launched in New Jersey?

FirstEnergy's subsidiary, JCP&L, has initiated two projects to upgrade 19 miles of transmission power lines in Monmouth County.

How much is FirstEnergy investing in its new transmission line projects?

FirstEnergy is investing $53 million to upgrade the transmission lines in New Jersey.

How will the recent power line upgrades benefit customers?

The upgrades will enhance reliability and reduce outage durations for approximately 50,000 customers.

When are the JCP&L power line upgrades expected to be completed?

The upgrades are expected to be completed between May and December 2023.

What is the 'Energizing the Future' initiative by FirstEnergy?

'Energizing the Future' is a $7 billion initiative aimed at upgrading FirstEnergy's transmission system and reducing outages.