Jersey Central Power and Light to install 1.1 million smart meters

Published on March 07, 2022 by Dave Kovaleski


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Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) plans to install 1.1 million smart meters for its customers, starting in 2023.

The plan, approved last week by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, calls for the installation of more than 1.1 million smart meters over three years. Approximately one-third of the smart meters are expected to be installed each year. The majority of JCP&L customers will have one installed by 2026.

“Smart meters help ensure accurate readings and will provide customers with information they need to better manage their electricity use. In the future, it will also help us restore power more quickly, especially in storm situations,” JCP&L President Jim Fakult said. “FirstEnergy has had tremendous success with this technology in Ohio and Pennsylvania, and we are excited to bring it to our customers in New Jersey.”

JCP&L is a subsidiary of FirstEnergy.

Smart meters allow for two-way communication and automated meter reading. They eliminate the need for on-site meter readings and result in more accurate billing. They also help customers better track their energy consumption, which reduces electricity costs. They also help the company detect and locate outages more quickly.

Customers will be notified by mail about one month prior to smart meter installation. The process only takes a few minutes and will have minimal disruption to electric service. Customers can opt-out of receiving a smart meter by paying a monthly fee.

FirstEnergy has installed more than 2.7 million smart meters since 2014 across its service territory. Currently, they are nearly complete in Pennsylvania and just underway in Ohio.

JCP&L serves 1.1 million New Jersey customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.