JCP&L wants to spend $935M to modernize, shorten power outages. What will it cost you?
Jersey Central Power and Light proposes to spend more than $900 million on system upgrades, including improvements to areas hit by past power outages, the utility said.
The proposed project, called EnergizeNJ, would pump $935 million into JCP&L's electric infrastructure across its 13-county service area in New Jersey, including Monmouth and Ocean counties. It submitted its plan to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities on Thursday for approval.
It will modernize the electric grid, including the utility's substations, overhead wires and electric circuits, and improve resiliency, making it more durable to help prevent outages, the company said. At the same time, it help accommodate additional uses, such as solar development and the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations.
“EnergizeNJ reaffirms our commitment to safe, affordable and reliable electric service into the future, ensuring our customers receive the service they expect and deserve from a modernized electric system," JCP&L President James Fakult said in a statement.
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"This plan represents a transformational upgrade of our electric grid infrastructure, using modern technology and smart devices to help reduce the size and duration of outages.”
If approved by regulators, the utility will dip into customers' pockets to pay for it.
A typical JCP&L residential customer using 783 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, whose bill is currently $116.88, could expect to see a total increase of approximately $4.16, or 3.6%, on their monthly electric bill over the course of the five-year plan, the utility said.
The rate adjustments would take place incrementally, with seven rate increases ranging from 10 cents to 99 cents, JCP&L said.
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JCP&L said it is its "largest-ever infrastructure upgrade investment plan" and builds on a previous plan called Reliability Plus. The utility added that the work has boosted outage restoration times and shortened the length of outages.
Locations for the new proposed upgrades are based on a review of historical outage data across its service territory to find areas that stand to benefit most from new power lines and technology.
The work includes:
Upgrading more than 600 miles of overhead power lines with wiring that supports increased capacity and protection in the event of high impact storms.
Replacing approximately 46 miles of aging underground lines with modern and more protected wiring.
Installing 2,175 new devices across 500 JCP&L circuits. This equipment works like a circuit breaker in a home, but also automatically re-energizes a power line within seconds to keep electricity safely flowing to customers and reduce the size and duration of outages, JCP&L said.
Upgrading 18 substations to support additional backup power feeds that will help keep the lights on for customers if wires or equipment on their line are damaged or need to be taken out of service.
Enhancing equipment at central New Jersey coastal substations with more protective housing to lessen the effects of the increased salt in the environment.
Purchasing additional mobile substations to provide redundancy and emergency back-up in the event of significant power outages.
David P. Willis: dwillis@gannettnj.ccom
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: JCP&L wants to spend $935M to modernize system, fight power outages
