JCP&L Investing $15 Million in Stronger Electric Future for Hunterdon County

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) subsidiary JCP&L is launching a $15.4 million infrastructure upgrade in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, to enhance electric service reliability for over 3,600 customers across eight communities. The project includes modernizing substations, upgrading more than 20 miles of overhead power lines, installing 3 miles of underground wires, and implementing smart technology.

The initiative is part of JCP&L's broader New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project, which will invest at least $95 million in upgrades over the next two years. This project falls under FirstEnergy's larger $28 billion Energize365 investment program running from 2025 to 2029, aimed at modernizing the electric grid across its service territory.

Positive

• Investment of $15.4 million to modernize and strengthen electric infrastructure
• Part of a larger $28 billion Energize365 investment program through 2029
• Implementation of smart technology and automated TripSaver devices for faster service restoration
• Strategic underground wire installation to minimize outages in vulnerable areas

Negative

• Growing electricity demand requiring significant infrastructure investments
• Current infrastructure limitations in handling increasing power needs

Insights

Utility Infrastructure Analyst

FirstEnergy's $15.4M grid investment strengthens its regulated business model and supports future rate base growth.

FirstEnergy's $15.4 million investment in Hunterdon County represents a strategic infrastructure upgrade targeting improved reliability for 3,600 customers across eight communities. This project is particularly significant as it addresses growing electricity demand in the Baptistown and Rosemont areas while modernizing aging infrastructure.

The comprehensive upgrade includes reconfiguring neighborhood circuits, enhancing 20+ miles of overhead lines, installing 3 miles of underground wiring in vulnerable wooded areas, and deploying automated TripSaver technology. These improvements will measurably reduce both the frequency and duration of outages, especially during severe weather events.

More importantly for investors, this project represents just one component of FirstEnergy's broader capital deployment strategy. The $15.4 million expenditure is part of JCP&L's $95 million New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project, which itself feeds into FirstEnergy's massive $28 billion Energize365 program running through 2029.

This methodical infrastructure investment approach aligns perfectly with the regulated utility business model. By deploying capital into reliability improvements, FirstEnergy can include these expenditures in its rate base calculations when requesting rate adjustments from regulators. This creates a pathway for the company to generate returns on these investments while strengthening system resilience against the increasing frequency of severe weather events affecting the northeastern grid.

Reconfigured power lines and modernized equipment provide greater reliability for customers in eight local communities

HOLMDEL, N.J., Aug. 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A reliability-focused $15.4 million upgrade is underway in Hunterdon County that will make electric service more resilient for more than 3,600 customers of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) company.

Enhancements to overhead lines and substations and installation of underground wires in forested areas will help reduce outages and speed repairs for JCP&L customers in Alexandria, Delaware, Flemington Borough, Franklin, Frenchtown Borough, Kingwood, Stockton Borough and Union.

More Grid Flexibility, More Storm Resiliency

Electricity demand from communities served by JCP&L substations in Baptistown and Rosemont is growing. Upgrades at these substations will offer more resiliency and flexibility to serve customers in these areas.

Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy's President of New Jersey: "As our local communities grow, they need more power to keep homes and businesses running. We're strengthening overhead power lines and putting some lines underground to help make sure our customers have power they can rely on – even during storms. The smart improvements mean safer, more dependable electricity for everyone."

Upgrades Modernize the Electric Grid

Enhancements to fortify Hunterdon's electric infrastructure include:

• Smarter circuits: Reconfiguring neighborhood lines, known as circuits, to optimize reliability and allow for temporary switching of customers during outages.
• Sturdier equipment: Upgrading more than 20 miles of overhead power lines and 30 poles for increased capacity and storm resilience.
• Buried lines: Installing nearly 3 miles of underground wires in remote, wooded areas to minimize outages and speed repairs.
• Enhanced flexibility: Increasing equipment to reroute power during outages to reduce affected customers.
• Automated technology: Installing TripSaver devices that detect short-term power line issues, such as a tree branch bouncing off lines, and automatically restore service without needing a crew to investigate.
• Additional vegetation management: Increasing tree trimming and vegetation management to enhance service reliability.

Part of a Bigger Plan

The work is part of JCP&L's New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project, a two-phase effort to enhance the reliability of lines with a history of outages. At least $95 million in upgrades will be completed over the next two years, with longer term projects continuing through 2028.

The New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's $28 billion investment program to modernize the electric grid across the footprint 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 1.1 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 more than six million 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. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at firstenergycorp.com.

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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

What is the size of FirstEnergy's (NYSE: FE) investment in Hunterdon County?

FirstEnergy's JCP&L is investing $15.4 million in electric infrastructure upgrades in Hunterdon County to improve service reliability for over 3,600 customers.

How many communities will benefit from JCP&L's Hunterdon County infrastructure upgrade?

The upgrade will benefit eight communities including Alexandria, Delaware, Flemington Borough, Franklin, Frenchtown Borough, Kingwood, Stockton Borough and Union.

What is FirstEnergy's (NYSE: FE) total investment in the Energize365 program?

FirstEnergy is investing $28 billion in the Energize365 program between 2025 and 2029 to modernize the electric grid across its service territory.

How many miles of power lines will JCP&L upgrade in Hunterdon County?

JCP&L will upgrade over 20 miles of overhead power lines and install nearly 3 miles of underground wires in remote, wooded areas.

What is the timeline for JCP&L's New Jersey Reliability Improvement Project?

The project will invest at least $95 million in upgrades over the next two years, with longer-term projects continuing through 2028.