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.