JCP&L Proposes Monmouth County Reliability Project
MORRISTOWN, N.J., May 19, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is proposing the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP) to enhance service and modernize the electric system. The project will include a new, nearly 10-mile, 230-kilovolt transmission line and substation enhancements that will benefit approximately 214,000 customers. The plan requires approval by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
“We know customers are expecting more from their electric utility, and it’s our responsibility to deliver the power they need when they need it. The Monmouth County Reliability Project will help us provide the consistent, reliable electricity our customers depend on in their daily lives,” said Tony Hurley, vice president of Operations at JCP&L. “We look forward to working with the community to ensure the project results in minimal impacts and maintains the unique beauty of our area.”
The proposed upgrades will allow JCP&L to better monitor and more quickly react to power needs with modern technology that delivers real-time information about system conditions. Sleek monopoles will be used for the proposed transmission line, rather than the bulky lattice-style towers that were used in the past. The line will be built on an existing public use right-of-way already containing electrical equipment servicing New Jersey Transit’s North Jersey Coast rail line. The MCRP will provide approximately 245 temporary jobs during construction.
JCP&L will host a series of face-to-face open house events in neighborhoods near the proposed project to share more information and gather feedback from interested parties. Additional details also are available online at www.monmouthreliability.com.
The project is part of JCP&L’s multi-year, $250 million “Energizing the Future” transmission system reliability enhancement program. PJM Interconnection, the organization that oversees the electrical grid across 13 states and the District of Columbia, has identified the MCRP as necessary, and it should be built to reduce the length and frequency of service disruptions in Monmouth County. If approved, construction is expected to begin in June 2017, with a planned in-service date of June 2019.
