JCP&L Enhances Electric Grid Resilience and Wildlife Protection in New Jersey

With upgrades in Monmouth and Sussex Counties, JCP&L's projects aim to bolster grid resilience, deter osprey nesting, and serve more than 8,500 customers as part of FirstEnergy’s $26 billion Energize365 initiative.

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Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., is advancing critical infrastructure upgrades across New Jersey, with projects that prioritize customer reliability and environmental stewardship. These initiatives, part of FirstEnergy’s Energize365 program, exemplify a $26 billion commitment between 2024 and 2028 to modernize the grid and prepare for future challenges.

Monmouth County Upgrades: Enhancing Reliability and Wildlife Protection

JCP&L has wrapped up two electric system upgrade projects in northern and eastern Monmouth County, benefiting more than 4,000 customers. These employee-led projects are designed to bolster grid reliability and deter birds of prey, such as ospreys, from nesting on utility poles.

In Neptune Township, two neighborhood power lines were upgraded with new fiberglass crossarms, which are stronger, safer, and more storm-resilient than traditional materials. Unlike wooden crossarms, these designs discourage osprey nesting due to their compact size. Additional improvements include the installation of three lightning arrestors to protect the lines from lightning strikes. This $1.1 million project, completed in late 2024, enhances service for over 1,100 customers.

Meanwhile, in Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach, a nearly two-mile stretch of high-voltage power line is undergoing upgrades to replace metal and wood crossarms with fiberglass alternatives and to install specialized insulators that deter osprey nesting. Scheduled for completion in late January 2025, this project will benefit nearly 3,200 customers.

Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy’s President of New Jersey operations, highlights the role of employee initiative in driving these efforts:

"Our open feedback system empowers employees to identify areas for improvement. These projects reflect that collaborative approach and underscore our commitment to safe, reliable service."

Northern New Jersey: Major Transmission Substation Upgrade in Sussex County

In Franklin Borough, JCP&L is undertaking a $50.3 million upgrade of a key transmission substation to enhance service reliability for approximately 4,500 customers across Sussex County, including Franklin Borough, Hamburg Borough, Hardyston, Ogdensburg, and Sparta.

This 18-month project includes:

  • Reconfiguring the substation to increase redundancy and flexibility.
  • Installing new electrical equipment and a control enclosure for enhanced operations.
  • Replacing an aging transformer and adding a third transformer to meet current and future demand.
  • Replacing aging infrastructure outside the substation with four steel monopoles and a lattice tower for reconfiguring high-voltage lines.

According to Mokoid, the Franklin project reinforces the backbone of the electric grid:

"This extensive work is essential for delivering safe, reliable electricity while preparing for future energy demands."

Environment + Energy Leader