By Amy Batista, Special Writer
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) presented the Township Council with updates on its new transformer project and communication tools during the meeting on Sept. 3.
JCP&L has introduced two new technologies to make it easier for customers to get important information about their electric service on their computers or mobile devices. The company will also be undertaking a large transmission improvement project from Manalapan down the Route 33 corridor to East Windsor, and installing a new transformer in the Wyckoff substation in Hightstown.
”Obviously, it would be a big improvement over what we experienced last November,” Mayor Janice Mironov said..
Councilman John Zoller said, “It’s needed and appreciated.”
Gerald Ricciardi, area manager of community and customer relations for central New Jersey’s JCP&L, talked about the improvements the company is making.
”I am here to talk to you about the improvements we’ve made to our communications process with our residents and also the large project we will be starting and continuing in 2014,” Mr. Ricciardi said.
Mr. Ricciardi talked about new enhancements to his company’s website, the MyTown website.
”If you go to our website and click on outages and select the state of New Jersey it will bring up a map of the state,” Mr. Ricciardi said. “On that map, you can zoom directly down onto East Windsor Township and it will show you any active outages that are ongoing right now in the state.”
According to Mr. Ricciardi, there will be “little triangles” that will identify where the outages are occurring and updates on restoration.
”When the outage first happens the triangle might say ‘You are experiencing severe weather right now’ and we predict 0-10 customers out,” Mr. Ricciardi said. “We will give a range of customers based on the phone calls we have.”
According to Mr. Ricciardi, the website provides information on how many utility poles are in the area, how many substations service East Windsor Township, and more. There are seven substations, 18 circuits, 2,211 utility poles and 65 miles of distribution lines, according to the website. There are 11,326 customers served.
Deputy Mayor Alan Rosenberg questioned the timeliness of the updates on the website.
”How often in times of emergencies are you updating this,” Deputy Mayor Rosenberg asked.
”It’s real time information based on calls from your residents,” Mr. Ricciardi said. “It does update about every 15 minutes.”
Alert and text messaging services are the latest additions to the company’s mobile technologies. Earlier this year, the company launched smartphone apps for iPhone and Android devices and a website that is accessible by using a smartphone at www.firstenergycorp.com. Customers can view power outages, photos and videos on the website.
”Your residents can now get email and text alerts if they sign up for it from our company,” Mr. Ricciardi said.
The new alert service allows customers to register for automated email or text message notifications regarding power outages, severe weather alerts, billing reminders and meter reading dates. The alert preferences can be updated at any time.
Customers can learn more about registering for the alerts at www.firstenergycorp.com/connect or start receiving the alerts by texting REG to 544487 (LIGHTS).
The alert and text message services are provided free of charge to customers, but some mobile carriers may charge fees for sending and receiving text messages or using data services. Customers should contact their carrier for more details about message and data rates.
”It’s a real lot of great information available to all of your residents and of course to yourselves,” Mr. Ricciardi said. “We are going to be undertaking a large transmission improvement project from Manalapan down the Route 33 corridor to the Manalapan, Millstone, Monroe, East Windsor, Hightstown and installing a new transformer in the Wyckoff substation in Hightstown.”
According to Mr. Ricciardi, the company is building a 115 kilovolt transmission line, which feeds individual substations.
”The reason we are building this line is, first of all, there has been an increased usage of electricity in the area and load growth in the last ten years,” Mr. Ricciardi said. “Secondly, it is to improve reliability.”
Work on the project will begin during the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter of 2014. The project is expected to be completed by June 2014.
”We will be running the pole line,” Mr. Ricciardi said adding it has already been done from the Englishtown substation to Route 33.
”This new pole line will be proceeding down Route 33 from Manalapan Township right through to East Windsor Township down Probasco (Road) as the map shows and into the backside of the Wyckoff substation in Hightstown,” Mr. Ricciardi said.
According to Mr. Ricciardi, JCP&L is working with the East Windsor Township Police Department Chief James Monahan on a traffic control plan so it has as “little impact” as it can on the township “as possible.” A letter was sent out to residents whose properties “abut” along this route, according to Mr. Ricciardi.
”We might need to get some additional tree right of ways, some easements, so we can maintain those trees,” Mr. Ricciardi said, adding that the company does not want trees to fall on its brand new transmission line.
Mayor Mironov questioned how long the work was expected to take once it got started in the East Windsor area.
”I would say about 90 days,” Mr. Ricciardi said, adding that it could take up to 120 days.
Councilman Zoller questioned if the residents would experience any “outages” as a result of this work.
According to Mr. Ricciardi, “no” outages will be experienced.
