Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) announced its crews will now use smartphones and mobile computers to more efficiently assess damage to electrical systems and expedite power restoration efforts in the wake of major storm events.
JCP&L has two new apps that employees can use: a hazard app and a damage assessment app.
The hazard app on company smartphones allows responders in the field to electronically document hazardous situations, identify trees that need to be removed before repairs can be made, provide comments about the scope of the damage and take photographs.
Once the hazard assessment is complete, repair crews can use the damage assessment app on company mobile computers to develop an itemized list of materials and equipment that will be needed to make repairs. The app uses a highly detailed map showing JCP&L circuits, with the location of poles, transformers and other pieces of electrical equipment.
About 70 employees have been trained to use the new hazard app, while about 40 employees have been trained on the company computers. Additional employees are expected to be trained next year.