Stronger Poles, New Wire to Deliver More Reliable Power to Monmouth County

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) electric company Jersey Central Power & Light completed major grid upgrades in northern Monmouth County to strengthen reliability for nearly 25,000 homes and businesses.

Rhea-AI Summary

FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) electric company Jersey Central Power & Light completed major grid upgrades in northern Monmouth County to strengthen reliability for nearly 25,000 homes and businesses. Key work includes 10 miles of new wire, replacement of 1970s-era poles with wood, steel and laminated structures, and a second set of lines along the corridor.

The project began in mid-2025, is expected to finish in spring 2026, and costs approximately $30 million as part of the Energize365 program supporting FirstEnergy's $28 billion 2025–2029 investment plan.

Argus Feb 9 session

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News Market Reaction – FE

On Feb 9, the day this news came out, FE closed 0.41% above the previous close.

Data tracked by StockTitan Argus for the Feb 9 session.

Key Figures

Customers impacted: nearly 25,000 homes and businesses Line upgrade length: 10 miles Project cost: $30 million +3 more

Customers impacted

nearly 25,000 homes and businesses

Monmouth County grid-upgrade project

Line upgrade length

10 miles

Existing power lines upgraded with stronger, modern wire

Project cost

$30 million

Monmouth County reliability and capacity upgrade project

Grid investment plan

$28 billion

Energize365 plan for 2025–2029 grid modernization

JCP&L customers

1.2 million customers

JCP&L service territory across multiple New Jersey counties

Transmission network

24,000 miles

Transmission lines operated by FirstEnergy subsidiaries

Historical Context

5 past events · Latest: Feb 04

5 events

1. Feb 04

   Default service plan

   24h Move

   -1.0%

   Pennsylvania default service plan filing outlining power procurement from 2027.

2. Feb 04

   ESG/community update

   24h Move

   -1.0%

   Report on 30,000+ trees planted in 2025 and 26,000 planned for 2026.

3. Feb 04

   Clean bus pilot

   24h Move

   -1.0%

   Approval of an $11.1 million Maryland electric school bus pilot program.

4. Jan 30

   Customer bill credits

   24h Move

   +0.0%

   Energy relief bill credits for more than 247,000 Maryland residential customers.

5. Jan 28

   Grid reliability upgrade

   24h Move

   -0.2%

   Underground cable upgrade in McKean County under Penelec LTIIP III and Energize365.

24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.

Key Terms

transmission system, transmission lines, electric grid

3 terms

transmission system technical

"These upgrades increase the capacity of the transmission system and provide a sturdier"

A transmission system is the high‑voltage network of lines, substations and control equipment that moves electricity (or other bulk energy) from generators to local distribution networks—like a highway carrying goods from factories to neighborhood streets. It matters to investors because who owns and operates the system, its capacity and reliability, and the rules governing its use drive predictable revenue, required capital spending and risk from outages or congestion, all of which affect a company’s cash flow and valuation.

transmission lines technical

"The company's 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.

electric grid technical

"Energize365, FirstEnergy's long-term investment program to modernize and strengthen the electric grid"

The electric grid is the large, interconnected system of power plants, wires, substations and control centers that generate electricity and deliver it to homes, factories and businesses. Investors care because the grid’s capacity, reliability and cost influence energy companies’ revenues, utility bills, and the ability of industries to operate; think of it like a highway network whose condition and congestion directly affect delivery speed, costs and economic activity.

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HOLMDEL, N.J., Feb. 9, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) electric company Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) is completing major upgrades to the local power grid in northern Monmouth County. The work is designed to reinforce the electric system and deliver more reliable service for nearly 25,000 homes and businesses across Marlboro Township, Holmdel Township, Matawan Borough, Aberdeen Township and Middletown Township.

At the center of the project is replacement of equipment originally installed in the 1970s. Key work includes:

• Upgrading 10 miles of existing power lines with stronger, modern wire.
• Replacing older wooden poles with new, more durable ones made of wood, steel and wood‑laminated structures.
• Adding a second set of lines along the corridor to offer multiple pathways to keep the power on when problems arise.

Construction began in mid‑2025 and is expected to be completed in the spring.

Built to Handle What's Ahead
These upgrades increase the capacity of the transmission system and provide a sturdier foundation for the area's growing energy needs.

Think of the work as upgrading from a two-lane road to a four-lane highway. With more capacity and stronger infrastructure, the system can better handle increased "traffic" and bounce back faster when issues occur.

Once completed, the upgrades will help:

• Reduce the number of outages
• Restore service faster when problems do arise.
• Prepare for growing energy use in the area.

Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy's President of New Jersey: "Reliable power is essential for every home and business in Monmouth County, and these upgrades give our communities a stronger, more resilient electric system built for the future. By reinforcing this corridor with modern equipment and new backup lines, we're creating a stronger system that can better withstand storms and other conditions that lead to outages and will support the region's growth."

Part of a Bigger Investment in Reliability
This approximately $30 million project is part of Energize365, FirstEnergy's long-term investment program to modernize and strengthen the electric grid. FirstEnergy plans to invest $28 billion between 2025 and 2029 to build a smarter, more resilient grid that meets the evolving needs of communities across the service area.

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. 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stronger-poles-new-wire-to-deliver-more-reliable-power-to-monmouth-county-302682842.html

SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What did FirstEnergy (FE) announce about Monmouth County power upgrades on February 9, 2026?

FirstEnergy announced completion of a $30 million Monmouth County upgrade project to boost reliability. According to the company, work includes replacing 1970s poles, upgrading 10 miles of wire and adding parallel lines to serve nearly 25,000 customers across five municipalities.

Which areas and how many customers does the JCP&L (FE) Monmouth County project serve?

The project serves nearly 25,000 homes and businesses across Marlboro, Holmdel, Matawan, Aberdeen and Middletown. According to the company, upgrades were focused on a northern Monmouth corridor to improve local outage performance and capacity.

What specific infrastructure changes did JCP&L (FE) make in the Monmouth County upgrade?

JCP&L replaced older wooden poles with new wood, steel and wood-laminated poles and upgraded 10 miles of wire. According to the company, a second set of lines was also added to provide alternate pathways and faster restoration.

How does the $30 million Monmouth County project fit into FirstEnergy's larger investment plan (FE)?

The Monmouth project is part of Energize365 within FirstEnergy's $28 billion 2025–2029 modernization plan. According to the company, the work supports a broader effort to modernize and harden the transmission and distribution systems.

When did construction start and when was the Monmouth County project expected to be completed by FirstEnergy (FE)?

Construction began in mid-2025 and the project was expected to be completed in the spring of 2026. According to the company, that schedule reflects phased corridor upgrades to minimize interruptions and restore capacity quickly.

What reliability benefits did FirstEnergy (FE) say the Monmouth County upgrades will deliver?

The upgrades are expected to reduce outages, restore service faster, and prepare for growing energy use in the area. According to the company, increased capacity and redundant lines will improve resiliency against storms and equipment failures.