JCP&L Spokesman: Power Restoration Timeline is Estimation Only

Power restoration throughout Berkeley Heights continues to progress today.

In a press release issued by the Governor's office, Governor Chris Christie held his fourth daily conference call with Board of Public Utilities President Lee Solomon, PSEG President and CEO Ralph LaRossa, and JCP&L President Don Lynch, to receive an update on the progress of storm recovery and power restoration efforts that remain ongoing around the state. As of this afternoon, 63,000 utility customers remain without power between the two utilities, with the goal of 95 percent of impacted residents restored by midnight this evening still projected to be met.

“Given the serious challenges posed to the utilities by this storm, the progress reported today continues to be strong and in line with the projections provided on Monday by PSEG and JCP&L of restoring power to 95 percent of their impacted customers by midnight tonight,” said Governor Christie. “We will continue to monitor progress to ensure that all New Jerseyans without power are brought back online as quickly as possible and provide another update tomorrow as power restoration activities begin to be completed.”

On today’s call, PSEG reported that 97 percent of total impacted customers had their power restored, while 16,000 customers remain without power. PSEG anticipates a 100 percent restoration by the end of the day on Friday. JCP&L reported restoration to 88 percent of total impacted customers, while 47,000 remain without power. With over 1000 crews deployed in the field and working continuously to restore power to remaining customers, JCP&L anticipates meeting its 95 percent restoration goal by midnight, and 100 percent restored by Saturday.

JCP&L spokesman Rob Marano, said that timelines is just an estimate.

“Many times when the crews go out to make the repairs, the individual repairs that need to be made will take longer and that’s why they’re not always accurate,” Morano told Patch Thursday afternoon. “But they are estimates that are based upon the assessment information we have. Many times we go out there, the repair requires more work than anticipated, which basically postpones [power restoration] a little bit.”

While JCP&L crews continue to restore power throughout Berkeley Heights and the surrounding communities, and the company is on pace to meet their deadlines, Morano said there may be some customers who require more work to their properties and may not have power back by the set deadlines.

“We are on pace to meet our deadlines, which is 95% by midnight tonight and the remaining by midnight tomorrow,” he said. “However, I will tell you during restoration efforts, you’re going to have some customers — individual customers or a group of customers — who may require extensive work. You’re going to have some customers who need an electrician or other work done on their house. There’s always a possibility when you’re doing a restoration of this type that there will be some customers that require additional work or have individual needs that will go beyond the deadline.”

Continue to check Berkeley Heights Patch for further updates.

Are there still trees and wires down on your street? Is your power still out? How are you coping with the power outages this week? Tell us in the comments below.