New Jersey utilities are seeing a significant impact from their ongoing infrastructure investments, with Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) reporting a notable decrease in power outages for thousands of its customers in 2025. The company has reached the halfway mark in its $95 million New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project, a multi-year initiative aimed at bolstering the resilience and dependability of its electrical grid.
In key areas of Morris and Monmouth counties, JCP&L observed an over 80% reduction in power outages for approximately 16,500 customers last year, directly attributable to targeted upgrades on local power distribution lines. This success underscores the tangible benefits of strategic infrastructure modernization in enhancing service reliability.
Doug Mokoid, President of FirstEnergy’s New Jersey operations, commented on the progress: “These improvements are keeping lights on more often and getting them back on faster when they do go out. We’re seeing real improvements, and we’re committed to making smart investments to bring that same level of reliability to even more communities as this work continues.”
**Strategic Investments Yielding Measurable Results**
The project’s strategy to mitigate the frequency and duration of outages centers on enhancing infrastructure in historically problematic zones. Key initiatives include:
* **Strengthening Grid Components:** Upgrading poles and wires to better withstand severe weather events.
* **Undergrounding Utilities:** Relocating vulnerable overhead equipment underground in areas prone to damage.
* **Smart Grid Deployment:** Integrating advanced technology that can autonomously detect and resolve power disruptions, thereby expediting restoration.
* **Network Reconfiguration:** Optimizing the arrangement of local power lines to isolate faults and minimize the number of affected customers.
* **Vegetation Management:** Intensifying tree trimming efforts to prevent foliage and branches from interfering with power lines.
**Future Enhancements and Project Milestones**
The New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project encompasses upgrades to 18 critical circuits across JCP&L’s service territory. Active work is underway on seven circuits, with three more commencing this month and an additional six slated for early 2026.
Upcoming phases of the project are set to enhance reliability for nearly 10,000 customers in the following counties:
* **Hunterdon County:** This will involve the modernization of over seven miles of overhead power lines and the installation of approximately 1,000 feet of new underground cable near the Glen Gardner substation. The addition of new transformers and devices will provide greater operational flexibility for power restoration.
* **Southern Ocean County:** A new 4.3-mile power line along Route 9, coupled with advanced smart grid devices, is designed to significantly reduce the customer impact during outages.
* **Warren County:** Upgrades to more than nine miles of power lines and the deployment of new protective equipment are planned for customers served by the Blairstown substation. These upgrades are scheduled for completion by the end of the year.
**A Broader Vision for Grid Modernization**
JCP&L’s reliability project is a component of FirstEnergy’s larger Energize365 initiative. This comprehensive, long-term investment program is dedicated to modernizing and fortifying the electric grid across FirstEnergy’s service area. The company has committed to investing $28 billion between 2025 and 2029 to build a more intelligent and resilient energy infrastructure capable of meeting the evolving demands of the communities it serves.
JCP&L serves 1.2 million customers across thirteen New Jersey counties, including Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren.
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