Electric Grid Upgrade Set to Strengthen Service and Speed Restoration in Monmouth County

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) and JCP&L are rebuilding and modernizing a key Monmouth County power corridor to strengthen reliability and speed restorations.

The project installs a new high-voltage line between Middletown Township and Red Bank, places ~0.5 miles underground after the Navesink River Bridge, adds ~1 mile of stronger overhead line, and installs a wooden pole to transition to underground. Construction began September 2025 with expected completion in February 2026 pending approvals.

The local work is part of a $1.6 million regional investment and complements a $36 million insulator upgrade across 76 miles; Energize365 plans $28 billion investment through 2029.

Positive

• 11,400 customers expected to benefit from the upgrade
• $1.6 million regional investment for Northern Monmouth County
• $36 million insulator upgrade across 76 miles of line
• Construction window: Sept 2025 to Feb 2026 (projected)

Negative

• Project completion is pending final approvals, risking schedule changes
• Broader related work extends to end of 2026, lengthening upgrade timeline

Key Figures

Customers Benefiting 11,400 customers JCP&L customers impacted by Monmouth County upgrade

Underground Line Length 0.5 miles Power lines placed underground after Navesink River Bridge

Overhead Line Length 1 mile Stronger overhead lines on existing poles

Local Investment $1.6 million Investment to strengthen Northern Monmouth County electric system

Lines Replaced 2.5 miles Power lines and poles being replaced in Northern Monmouth County

Insulator Upgrade Project $36 million Insulator upgrades along 76 miles in multiple NJ counties

Insulator Line Length 76 miles Lines receiving upgraded insulators across NJ counties

Energize365 Investment Plan $28 billion Planned grid investment from 2025 to 2029

Market Reality Check

$44.61 Last Close

Volume Volume 4,056,993 is below the 20-day average, with a relative volume of 0.83. normal

Technical Price at 44.26 is trading above the 200-day MA of 42.78, indicating a firm pre-news trend.

Peers on Argus

FE was up 0.41% with several regulated electric peers also positive (AEE 0.45%, ES 0.44%, PPL 0.77%, WEC 0.85%), while EIX slipped -0.53%, suggesting a mixed but generally constructive sector backdrop.

Historical Context

Date	Event	Sentiment	Move	Catalyst
Dec 05	Debt exchange offer	Neutral	-0.5%	Exchange of $450M 4.750% notes for registered notes under S-4.
Dec 01	Grid upgrade plan	Positive	-2.7%	Westmoreland County grid rebuild under $368M LTIIP III investment.
Dec 01	Education grant	Positive	-2.7%	$10,000 grant to York College for electrical engineering tools and labs.
Dec 01	Customer assistance	Neutral	-2.7%	USF application support and free in-person assistance event for customers.
Nov 20	Solar operations	Positive	+0.7%	Solar grazing with 350 sheep at 18.9 MW Fort Martin solar site.

Pattern Detected

Recent community and grid investment headlines often coincided with flat-to-negative next-day moves, indicating the stock has not consistently been rewarded for infrastructure and outreach news.

Recent Company History

Over the past month, FE issued several operational and community updates. On Dec 5, it launched an exchange offer for $450 million of 4.750% notes, framed as a registration step rather than new financing. Multiple December news items focused on grid upgrades and customer support, including a $368 million Westmoreland County plan and outreach for bill assistance, while November news highlighted solar grazing and community grants. Today’s Monmouth County grid upgrade fits this pattern of reliability-focused investment and customer-centric initiatives across FE’s footprint.

Market Pulse Summary

This announcement highlights targeted grid upgrades in Monmouth County that aim to improve reliability for nearly 11,400 customers and support regional growth. It fits within FirstEnergy’s broader Energize365 plan to invest $28 billion from 2025–2029, including a $1.6 million local program and a separate $36 million insulator project. Investors may watch execution timelines through February 2026 and 2026 year-end, plus how these projects feed into future regulatory filings and earnings disclosures.

Key Terms

high-voltage technical

"JCP&L ... is building a new high-voltage power line between two substations"

High-voltage describes a situation where a financial market or asset experiences large and rapid price movements, creating significant uncertainty and risk. It’s like a stormy weather pattern in the financial world, where prices can swing dramatically in a short period. For investors, high-voltage conditions signal increased potential for big gains or losses, making careful analysis and risk management especially important.

substations technical

"building a new high-voltage power line between two substations in Middletown Township"

Substations are fenced facilities on the power grid where electricity is transformed, routed and controlled—think of them as traffic interchanges for electrical flow, using transformers and switches to change voltage and direct power between high-voltage long-distance lines and local distribution networks. They matter to investors because their condition, capacity and modernization affect utility reliability, maintenance costs, regulatory compliance and future growth; failures or upgrades can directly influence earnings, capital spending and the value of energy assets.

insulators technical

"project is upgrading aging insulators – the parts that keep power lines securely attached"

Insulators are materials or components that block or slow the flow of electricity, heat, or sound, like rubber on a wire or foam in a wall. For investors, they matter because they affect product safety, energy efficiency, manufacturing costs, and regulatory compliance—factors that influence demand, pricing power, and profit margins across industries from construction to electronics. Think of an insulator as the blanket that keeps warmth in and unwanted currents or noise out.

transmission lines technical

"transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines"

High-voltage towers and cables that carry electricity from power plants to cities and substations, like highways that move energy rather than cars. For investors, transmission lines are long-lived, capital-intensive assets whose condition, capacity and regulatory treatment affect utility revenues, reliability and the ability to connect new generation; bottlenecks or upgrades can change costs, permit timelines and future returns.

AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.

HOLMDEL, N.J., Dec. 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A major upgrade is underway in Monmouth County to improve electric service for thousands of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) customers. The project includes rebuilding and modernizing a key section of the local power grid to strengthen reliability and reduce the frequency and length of outages.

Built to Power the Future
JCP&L, a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) electric company, is building a new high-voltage power line between two substations in Middletown Township and Red Bank Borough. This new line will provide a backup source of electricity in case a customer's main power line is out of service due to bad weather or unexpected problems.

The project includes putting about half a mile of power lines underground after crossing the Navesink River Bridge and adding a mile of stronger overhead lines on existing poles. Near the Red Bank substation, a new wooden pole will be added to switch the line from overhead to underground, completing the connection.

Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy's President of New Jersey: "We know how much our customers rely on dependable electricity to power their homes, businesses and daily lives. We're investing in Monmouth County's energy future to help reduce outages, speed up restoration times and support the growth of our communities for years to come."

What This Means for You
This upgrade will help balance electricity demand across the system and give JCP&L more options to restore power quickly if there's an emergency or maintenance work. It also replaces infrastructure originally built in the 1970s with stronger, more modern equipment designed to better withstand severe weather and other common outage causes, like tree and animal interference.

Once completed, the project will benefit nearly 11,400 JCP&L customers by:

• Supporting future growth in homes, businesses and infrastructure by strengthening the grid's reliability, capacity and flexibility, and helping ensure consistent service as the community expands.
• Reducing the frequency of outages and speeding up restoration times.
• Enhancing the overall resiliency of the local electric grid.

Construction began in September 2025 and is expected to wrap up by February 2026, pending final approvals.

Additional Local Upgrades Underway
This project is part of a $1.6 million investment to make the electric system stronger and more reliable for Northern Monmouth County. Here's what's happening:

• More than 2.5 miles of power lines and poles are being replaced with newer, tougher ones to better handle storms.
• Advanced technology is being added that can quickly spot problems and protect equipment, helping to keep the power on.
• New equipment is being installed to help move electricity around problems, so outages affect fewer customers.

An additional $36 million project is upgrading aging insulators – the parts that keep power lines securely attached to poles – along 76 miles of lines in Monmouth, Essex, Hunterdon, Middlesex and Morris counties. Upgrading these aging components, some of which are more than 40 years old, lowers the chance of pole fires and electrical issues, which means fewer outages and a safer system.

Customers will not experience any interruptions to their power during the construction. The work, which started in September, will be completed by the end of 2026.

Part of a Bigger Plan
Energize365 is FirstEnergy's long-term investment program to modernize the electric grid. FirstEnergy plans to invest $28 billion through Energize365 between 2025 and 2029. The goal: a smarter, more secure grid that meets the needs of today's customers and tomorrow's growth. 

JCP&L serves 1.2 million customers in the counties of Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren. Follow JCP&L on X @JCP_L, on Facebook at facebook.com/JCPandL or online at jcp-l.com. 

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Visit FirstEnergy online at firstenergycorp.com and follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp. 

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is FirstEnergy and JCP&L building in Monmouth County (FE)?

They are building a new high-voltage line between Middletown Township and Red Bank, including ~0.5 miles underground and ~1 mile stronger overhead line.

How many customers will the Monmouth County upgrade affect for FE?

The project is expected to benefit nearly 11,400 JCP&L customers by improving reliability and restoration options.

When did construction start and when will the Monmouth County upgrade finish (FE)?

Construction began in September 2025 and is expected to wrap up by February 2026, pending final approvals.

What other investments accompany the Monmouth County project by FirstEnergy (FE)?

The local project is part of a $1.6 million regional effort and complements a $36 million insulator upgrade across 76 miles; Energize365 plans $28 billion through 2029.

Will customers experience power interruptions during the Monmouth County work (FE)?

The company states customers will not experience interruptions to their power during the construction.