EnergizeNJ initiative designed to help
prevent or minimize impact of power outages
HOLMDEL,
N.J., Nov. 9, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy
Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Jersey Central Power and Light
(JCP&L) will file a new infrastructure improvement program with
the New Jersey Board of Public
Utilities (BPU) today that would strengthen the backbone of its
local electric system and provide the foundation for smart grid
capabilities in the future. Known as EnergizeNJ, the
five-year, $935 million proposal
includes key investments in grid modernization, system resiliency
and substation modernization, and represents the largest
infrastructure upgrade investment in company history.
![JCP&L Logo (PRNewsfoto/FirstEnergy Corp.) JCP&L Logo (PRNewsfoto/FirstEnergy Corp.)](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/545855/JCPL_Logo.jpg)
Jim Fakult, president of
JCP&L: "EnergizeNJ reaffirms our commitment to
safe, affordable and reliable electric service into the future,
ensuring our customers receive the service they expect and deserve
from a modernized electric system. This plan represents a
transformational upgrade of our electric grid infrastructure, using
modern technology and smart devices to help reduce the size and
duration of outages."
EnergizeNJ builds upon system enhancements completed
since the BPU approved the company's Reliability Plus plan
in 2019. To date, that program has resulted in improved outage
restoration times for customers in areas where smart technology was
installed and prevented or reduced the length of outages by
millions of minutes, cumulatively. Learn more about how customers
have benefited from Reliability Plus.
EnergizeNJ will offer more customer benefits through
key investments that include:
- Upgrading more than 600 miles of overhead power lines with more
robust wiring that supports increased capacity and added resistance
to high impact storms.
- Replacing approximately 46 miles of aging underground lines
with modern and more protected wiring.
- Installing 2,175 new TripSaver devices across 500
JCP&L circuits. These programmable devices work like a circuit
breaker in a home with the added benefit of automatically
re-energizing a power line within seconds to keep power safely
flowing to customers, reducing the size and duration of
outages.
- Standardizing service voltage across JCP&L's footprint,
allowing for additional circuits to be connected as a backup in
case of issues with a given circuit.
- Upgrading 18 substations to support additional backup power
feeds that will help keep the lights on for customers if wires or
equipment on their regular line are damaged or need to be taken out
of service, as well as increase overall system capacity.
- Installing modernized protective devices and upgrading various
substation components.
- Enhancing equipment at central New
Jersey coastal substations with more protective housing to
lessen the effects of the increased salt in the environment.
- Purchasing additional mobile substations to provide redundancy
and emergency back-up in the event of significant power
outages.
As New Jersey moves to increase
clean energy resources, the upgrades and increased capacity will
accommodate the connection of additional resources, such as solar
development and the expansion of electric vehicle charging
infrastructure. The overall program helps ensure the grid is
prepared for the transition to New
Jersey's clean energy future.
Locations for the EnergizeNJ work are based on a
review of historical outage data across JCP&L's 13-county
service area to identify the areas that stand to benefit most from
upgraded power lines and new technology.
If approved, the typical JCP&L residential customer using
783 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, whose bill is
currently $116.88, could expect to
see a total increase of approximately $4.16, or 3.6%, on their monthly electric bill
over the course of the five-year plan. The rate adjustments would
take place incrementally, with seven rate adjustments ranging from
approximately $0.10 to $0.99. JCP&L's residential rates remain the
lowest among New Jersey's four
regulated electric distribution companies.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy's Interruption Cost
Estimate tool, the $935 million
EnergizeNJ proposal is expected to deliver an estimated
$3.08 billion return on investment in
electric service reliability benefits to JCP&L customers by
helping prevent non-storm-related outages and expediting power
restoration during significant storm events.
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,
formerly Twitter, @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL
or online at www.jcp-l.com.
FirstEnergy Corp. 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 X, formerly Twitter, @FirstEnergyCorp.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.