Berkeley Heights Mayor Upset with JCP&L: "Their Management Stinks"

It's been almost a week since Mother Nature sent October snow our way, downing numerous tree limbs and power lines in the process, which in some areas of Berkeley Heights, still need to be repaired.

The situation is of the utmost concern to Mayor Joseph Bruno, who has reached his limit with electric provider JCP&L. Six days later, almost 500 customers are still in the dark.

"They don't communicate with us," Mayor Bruno told Patch this morning. "They don't tell us what's going on, they don't come into town. They've never come into town hall for a briefing to tell us where we are. I know that it's statewide, but they really don't seem like they care about the residents and what they're going through."

Just as annoying -- and potentially dangerous -- are the closures of several main roads in town, making it more difficult for emergency vehicles to get to their destinations. Bruno made his feelings known to JCP&L on Monday, but to no avail.

"First thing I told them on Monday, open up Springfield, open up Mountain, Plainfield, Snyder and Diamond Hill Road," added Bruno. "Those are our east, west, north, and south main arteries and get them cleared so we can get emergency vehicles through. The tree wasn't cleared (on Mountain) until yesterday and the power's still not on. They put the pole in yesterday morning and it's still not hooked up. Why a main thoroughfare like Mountain (Avenue) isn't a priority to them, I have no idea. Ambulances can't get through. Mountain Avenue is the way to the hospital."

Bruno told Patch he has emergency contacts for JCP&L but when he calls, he gets the same old story. In the meantime, his patience has run out.

"Just get it done. Somebody's gotta be first and somebody's gotta be last with the power, I understand that, and I understand they have a method, but they should have a meeting with the town about our priorities and with good reason," said Bruno. "It's where the emergency equipment goes through and they should be open first. They did it their way. I can't make any excuses for JCP&L. In my opinion, their management stinks."

It's been quite a year for residents, having to deal with flooding, an earthquake and now the snowstorm. But Bruno said this time, JCP&L's response needs to be different.

"The summertime was one thing with the flood, but it was warmer then. Now they're getting basically ridiculous. It's 42 degrees at night, people are freezing at night and they're dragging their feet. I know it's a massive thing, but at least communicate so the information we give is accurate. The communication is terrible."

The mayor said he was told that JCP&L would have power fully restored to residents by midnight tonight, but at this point, he can only hope.

"It's been a difficult week for everybody, but mostly for the residents. If you don't have a generator, you can survive during the day, but at night it does get cold, and we just need JCP&L to be a little more responsive."