Covered Bridge power problems tracked down

BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

Covered Bridge power
problems tracked down
BY DAVE BENJAMIN
Staff Writer

MANALAPAN — A Jersey Central Power & Light representative believes the company has solved the problem that has led to power outages in the Covered Bridge adult community.

The topic was discussed at the Township Committee’s Feb. 11 meeting.

The most recent power outage at Covered Bridge began at about 9:35 a.m. Jan. 10 and lasted until 12:15 p.m. when power was restored by JCP&L, according to police Lt. Kenneth Gibson.

Gibson’s report noted that the Manalapan Senior Center was opened as a temporary shelter due to freezing weather that day. In addition, the Covered Bridge II clubhouse was also slated to be used as a shelter, but the problem was corrected before it was needed.

Gerald M. Ricciardi, area manager for community and customer relations, JCP&L, Old Bridge, addressed the issue with members of the governing body.

"There was a transformer fire in September 2002 which basically caused $1 million worth of damage to the substation on Route 9 near the Excelsior [catering hall]," Ricciardi said. "When you have that kind of damage it takes some time to purchase a new one."

Subsequently, Ricciardi said, in November 2002, there was an animal contact which caused two problems. There was damage to the overhead wires that feed down Route 9 to Covered Bridge. Then, a secondary problem occurred. A fault traveled through those wires and did some damage to cables running under Covered Bridge.

Those problems led to a six-hour power outage in Covered Bridge on one day in November 2002.

"Once we found the [first] problem with the overhead cable and some customers were back on line, we continued to restore power to all the remaining customers," said Ricciardi. "[After six hours], all customers were back on line and we left at that point.

The secondary problem with the underground cables in Covered Bridge remained undetected.

"At that point in time, the mayor and I had talks about improving the reliability [in that area]" said Ricciardi. "We had an engineering study done and on March 5, 2003, I sent a letter stating all the improvements we were going to make — lightning arresters; a new transformer at the Gordons Corner substation; and some spot tree trimming."

While installing the new transformer in June there were some sporadic outages, Ricciardi said.

In August, a switch in a box at Covered Bridge failed and about 150 to 200 residents lost power until the switch was replaced.

Then, on Jan. 10, on the coldest Saturday of the year, power went out in the morning, Ricciardi said, adding that crews were dispatched immediately.

He said that because the entire circuit went out, JCP&L searched the lines, switches and connection. At the same time the company began restoring some of the customers and decreased the load to that circuit.

At the junction where the overhead wires meet the underground cables, JCP&L isolated the cable where it was believed there was a fault and by 12:15 p.m. everyone was back on line, he said.

Ricciardi said it was eventually determined that a relay switch that was not properly calibrated caused the problem. He said the switch was recalibrated and since then the problem has not reoccurred.

Power outages are caused by numerous reasons — animals, trees, storms, accidents and mechanical failure. He said crews are on duty 24 hours a day to respond when a power outage occurs.

"They identify the problem and if they can restore [the power] with just the one or two people that are there they will do that. If it’s a bigger problem they call ad­ditional crews to help them restore the power," he said.

Hospitals, police stations, water treatment facilities and any vital com­munity areas are restored in that order, the JCP&L representative said.

Mayor Beth Ward asked if the equip­ment that is in place at the present time is adequate and functioning properly.

Ricciardi said the equipment has been tested and all the switches will be retested as soon as the weather starts to warm up. He explained the procedures in place for replacing underground cables.