Jersey Central Power & Light invests $97M in reliability improvements

Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) completed more than $97 million in major projects to enhance electric service reliability and minimize the impact of outages for its 1.1 million customers in northern and central New Jersey.

The work is being done as part of the 18-month JCP&L Reliability Plus Infrastructure Investment Program includes infrastructure enhancements, vegetation management, and distribution automation to its electric distribution system. Projects were completed between June 1, 2019, and Dec. 31, 2020.

“We have taken great care to ensure that JCP&L Reliability Plus focuses on the enhancements that have the most reliability benefit for our more than one million New Jersey customers,” Jim Fakult, president of JCP&L, said. “These projects will help to reduce the frequency of power outages, mitigate potential tree damage during severe weather events, and modernize our electric grid to provide more flexibility and resiliency for the electrical system in New Jersey.”

Specifically, the projects included the installation of over 1,700 automated reclosing devices on power lines across its service territory to help reduce the frequency and duration of service interruptions; the installation of technology that can automatically detect damage on the system, safely isolate it, and reroute power flow around the damaged equipment; and equipment upgrades to modernize substations.
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JCP&L – a subsidiary of First Energy — will continue its efforts in 2021 with capital investments aimed at equipment upgrades, as well as its annual vegetation management efforts and continued inspection and maintenance work to enhance system resiliency.