JCP&L Blasted By Residents, Officials at Hearing
Poor communication, infrastructure and equipment problems after storm among primary complaints to utility company president, BPU.
Photos
If there was one thing the state Board of Public Utilities, JCP&L's president Don Lynch, officials and the public agreed upon Monday night, it was the severity of the storm named Sandy that howled through the state on Oct. 29, not only lashing the shore but bringing power outages that lasted two weeks or more to parts of central and northern New Jersey.
But nearly all of the dozens of officials and residents from the inland counties of Somerset, Morris, Passaic and Sussex who spoke at a public input meeting held by the BPU in Basking Ridge, refused to let Jersey Central Power & Light off the hook anyway.
"For us, in Bernards Township, for the first seven days after the storm, virtually nothing happened," said township Deputy Mayor Carolyn Gaziano, one of dozens of speakers during a meeting that lasted more than three-and-a-half hours.
At that time, all major roads were blocked, schools and public buildings were among those wide swaths of the town still without power and some neighborhoods were on roads that were blocked to the extent that emergency vehicles couldn't get through, Gaziano and other township officials said.
"If someone had a heart attack or fire, there was no way to get in," Bernards Mayor Mary Pavlini said. "Going forward, we can't have situations like that again."
The state Board of Public Utilities had scheduled Monday's meeting, which began at 4 p.m. at the William Annin Middle School, as the first regional meeting in New Jersey with the intent of collecting public input on JCP&L's preparedness and response before, during and after the storm.
"The purpose of these hearings is to solicit public input," BPU president Robert Hanna said. All comments made Monday night will become part of the official record at the BPU, which is charged with regulating utilities that hold franchises in different areas of the state, he said.
Hanna also began the meeting by saying public comments concerning steps to improve JCP&L's infrastructure also would be accepted. He said other meetings are scheduled, including one on Dec. 18 in Hopatcong.
The BPU president started the meeting by saying that 2.7 million customers in New Jersey were left powerless by the storm and 17,000 out-of-state workers responded to assist. By Nov. 4, approximately 60 percent of statewide customers without power had been restored, and by nine days after the storm, that number had risen to 90 percent of JCP&L customers in New Jersey, Hanna said.
Even so, Hanna said in his view, the power company's communications with affected communities and customers "still need great, great improvement."
Among the areas that JCP&L might make improvements on in the future is prioritizing what road closures to address, partially by working more closely with county OEMs, reinstalling some wires underground and raising substations that flooded above ground, Lynch suggested.
But he added he is proud of the power company's record of bringing 1.3 million customers statewide back on line within 13 days.
Other speakers were not so complimentary.
Children reported stepping over wires to get on school buses
Ten days after the storm, David Tourville said he had watched a scene he couldn't believe was happening in America: Chester students stepping over downed wires to get onto a school bus. "We had called JCP&L about those wires," he added.
Tourville called upon the BPU to require JCP&L to "answer for all the things they didn't do." He noted that in Connecticut last year, rebates had been issued to disatisfied power company customers.
N.J. Republican Assemblyman Scott Rumana, also former mayor of Wayne in Passaic County, said area customers of Public Service Electric Gas, the state's other main electric utility, "are always up and running sooner, and substantially sooner in most cases, than JCP&L customers." He called for "greater competition" that would allow JCP&L customers to potentially join PSEG's nearby territory.
Ron Bassani, of Wantage Township in Sussex County, said JCP&L customers in that area would like to consider joining the nearby Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative, which he said did an "excellent job" of restoring power after both the Irene and Sandy storms.
Hanna noted switching to a different power company would involve disenfranchising the current utility, which owns the power lines, and compensating that company for those lines and equipment.
But Lynn Donaldson, of Basking Ridge, said JCP&L should be penalized for its performance, which she said included emails and phone calls to residents telling them their power had been restored when it wasn't; better planning for a storm that was known to be coming to the area and power lines left lying on major thoroughfares.
"If you can't provide the service to the customers, then let someone in who can," Donaldson said to Lynch.
Warren Township Mayor Carolann Garafola called for a forensic analysis of JCP&L's books to see what the company has spent on infrastructure and equipment, particularly in comparison to its parent company, FirstEnergy, in Ohio. Other speakers said crew workers from out of state had noted JCP&L's equipment and infrastructure in the area were antiquated.
Garafola said Warren Township was the last area to receive power in each of the last three storms, and the information received from the power company was often "totally inaccurate."
Like other speakers, she said the power company had not followed local input for setting priorities in restoring power to facilities. "Our schools were the last to come up," she said.
Somerset County Freeholder Mark Caliguire said JCP&L had asked for a prioritization of county roads to be reopened. He said he had named five roads, and 10 days later, three of those roads still were not open.
Bernards Township Committee Member Scott Spitzer also said the power company hadn't moved to remove, or authorize the removal, of wires that would have prevented emergency vehicles from reaching certain neighborhoods behind roads blocked by trees and/or wires. "We had situations where people's lives were at risk because that wasn't prioritized," he said.
Communication, both with customers and also with repair crews deployed in the area, was a key component of the complaints against the power company.
Despite recommendations for better communications after last year's storms, Montville Township Committee Member Scott Gallopo said he did not see a noticeable improvement since Tropical Storm Irene. Information posted on JCP&L's website was "inaccurate and incomplete," he said, and salt was added to wounds when people were told they had returned power when they didn't.
Republican State Assemblyman Jon Bramnick said he thought the power company's communications had been poor during Sandy. He said residents don't want to hear broad discussions about the severity of the storm. "They want to know where the trucks are."
Other speakers, including Morris Township Mayor Peter Mancuso, said crews had been "hanging around" waiting for orders on what to do next. He said the township has a staging area where crews remained for "hours and hours."
"There's only one utility that doesn't have a mobile dispatching system, and that's JCP&L," Wayne Councilwoman Lonni Ryan said.
Morristown Councilwoman Alison Deeb, of that town's fourth ward, said half of her district was without power for 11 days. She said JCP&L's field managers are trying to handle too many towns—she claimed the person assigned to her territory was trying to juggle 55 towns.
Deeb, too, said the power company's communications are not where they should be for 2012.
Lynch responded to such criticisms by saying that JCP&L is in the process of installing mobile communication units, and the installation should be completed next year, possibly by summer.
But he also added the company prefers to lean toward guaranteeing crew safety by requiring them to call in to dispatchers for live information on where it's safe to work on wires.
Other discussions at the meeting included the possibility of training certain electricians or personnel on township department of public works or offices of emergency response to authorize wires to be moved in an emergency situation.
Others looked ahead to what will happen during future storms.
Niha Limaye, of Bridgewater, said such storms can be expected to become more common during climate changes. She said JCP&L should be doing its own post-morten of its response during Sandy. "We want to understand what went wrong, and what's going to change, and what we can do to help you," she said.
She said more than 600 people have joined a local Facebook page, "JCP&L Needs to Answer."
"I don't expect this to be going on in a year or two," Basking Ridge resident Tony Otero said. He said the company needs to modernize the local power infrastructure.
However, Ami Morita, attorney with the state's Division of Rate Council, urged officials to "tread carefully" before making expensive improvements to the system she said would be passed on as rate hikes. "Let's not victimize rate payers a second time," she said.
Morita said JCP&L's rates are supposed to include funding for responses to storms, and she will look more carefully into that area.
Among those with a positive response for the power company was Lance Berkheimer, who said he lives in Basking Ridge and has a business in Stirling. He said his power was out for four days at home, and eight days at his business. However, he said JCP&L responded quickly when he had a problem with his business. "I think JCP&L did a good job," he said.
Other comments can be filed via email at board.secretary@bpu.state.nj.us, referring to docket no. E012111050, or by mail to Board of Public Utilities, 44 S. Clinton Ave., P.O. box 350, Trenton, 08625, according to representatives from the BPU who were at the meeting.
mayfairwitch1
7:43 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
~~~~But he added he is proud of the power company's record of bringing 1.3 million customers statewide back on line within 13 days~~~~
Really!!! I was without power for 5 days, many people much longer and I don't recall seeing ONE JCPL truck....saw lots of trucks from Donovan Power in Minnesota who restored mine..and a few other out of state power crews but not ONE JCPL truck
Bob
8:08 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Great recap. Thanks!
Dolores Pecorari
8:11 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
It was a terrible storm. We were without power for 9 days. Storm of the century!!! But if you listened to the crews from other states who came here to help they could not believe how old and antiquated our system was. That should be addressed
Moira
8:18 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Yes! I heard the same thing, too. And living in Morristown, with manhole covers blowing up for the last 20 years, we know it especially.
Sick of the Trolls -- I bet you're a real weenie in person. People who talk smack anonymously like you always turn out to be weenies.
Mike Umbris
8:32 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Sick of Trolls- First Energy doesn't own Minnesota power you dope (https://www.firstenergycorp.com/our_electric_companies_home.html). Nor do they own Georgia Power or Southern Company. I made coffee for the crew from Georgia that came to my street. They were never given a map of the electrical system and were roaming street to street fixing downed wires the best they could without supervision for 5 days. They slept in their truck for the first 2. First Energy has been deteriorating for the past 7 years while their senior executives literally bring home millions of dollars of pay. First Energy is given a legal monopoly to run, in return THEY MUST invest in the infrastructure of the system. This simply is not happening and the BPU must seriously consider giving their NJ service territory (which they clearly cannot maintain) to another Power provider who can.
Sick of the trolls
8:56 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
"companies that came from out of state were either also owned by First Energy (which owns JCP&L) or coordinated by JCP&L?"
John
8:48 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
I was without jcp&l power for 4 days....after Irene and the heavy snow storm that preceeded Irene I decided that I had to have a plan. 3000W pure sine wave inverter, bank of batteries, all recharged by by Chevy Tahoe. My inverter gave us power for everything we needed. The main problem we had in Hunterdon County were trees that fell on power lines and home service lines. Because of the mass destruction recovery resources were spread super thin........the solution would be to cut down every tree that may possibly fall onto power lines......we don't want that either but it would have solved 95% of the problem that was not due to flooding. Good thing the heavy rain stayed well inland in PA or we could have had 10X the trees and wires down. When the power goes off during one of these storms, turn your main breaker off that way if a tree strikes your house and comes right into the living space any wires in the wall/ceiling that are shorted do not start a fire immediately or when the power is restored to your geographical area.....too many vairables in play this time to lean only on the power companies............I hope it never happens again during my lifetime.
mayfairwitch1
8:56 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Sick of Trolls, before you resort to name calling you should get your facts straight.
First Energy does NOT own Donovan Power from MN. Donovan Power is a company that specializes in disaster relief...
and by the way there is NEVER a reason to resort to name calling...NEVER
Sick of the trolls
9:35 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
So? They were still working for JCP&L to restore YOUR POWER. Just because the truck didn't say JCP&L on the side, doesn't mean JCP&L wasn't aware that you had no power and working to restore it. Did you think Donovan Power drove from Minnesota just to show up and start restoring lines willy nilly? Are you that naive? Or just so entitled to your outrage that you'll say whatever first comes into your mind? You're right, calling you a dummy was out of line, and I apologize for that; but jeez, think before you speak, huh?
mayfairwitch1
9:55 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
You know troll..I don't care who called them or any of the other out of state crews that came in here....bottom line..each and every one of them put JCPL to SHAME...
I would have to agree with another poster, you must work for JCPL.
roger freiday
9:24 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
One more thing, if we wanna vote on the most inefficient, over priced, late responding fools in ''utility world'', it's a tag team with JCPL and Century Link. We had no land line EIGHTEEN DAYS, and since the ''restoration'', my neighborhood has played ''outage tag'' as on any given day someone's phone goes down or static wipes it out. (this include RIGHT NOW) This also affects a neighbor who has TOLD THEM she relies on the ''amulet'' emergency assistance line that requires the damn phone to WORK !!
jefco348
10:25 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Sick of the Trolls JCP&L a wholly ownwd susidiary of First Energy was stripped of all of their equipment when the aquisition was complete,its most senior supervisors were fired(they actually knew the power grid) and the executives of First Energy lined their pockets with the cost savings of both these actions. Anthony J. Alexander was paid 18.3 million dollars last year. The reason for all the out of state trucks,they have no equipment in New Jersey,it is at their other Utilities. The reason it takes so long to restore power is there is no "smart grid". It was being built at the time of the aquisition and squashed because of the cost. You obviously work for First Energy
Wood
11:45 am on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Even if JCP&L had the best utility system the world, it would not have made a difference. Hurricane-blown trees have no regard for utilities, roads or homes. This was an unprecedented tree removal and power line rebuilding nightmare. The problem as acknowledged last night at the BPU hearing was poor communications between JCP&L, its customers and municipalities on outages and restoration times, lack of priority getting the trees with downed wires out of the roads (South Maple, Mt. Airy, North Finley) and poor planning/dispatching of work for out-of-state crews. I think we need neighborhood coordinators who will volunteer to walk the neighborhood after a storm (we do anyway) and report the damage by cell phone to the Bernards Township OEM and JCP&L. That will give JCP&L and the Township critical up-front, real time information they do not have on what the situation is (transformers, poles, cross arms, spans of wire down; trees in roads with or without wires) so they can plan, prioritize, order equipment, materials and dispatch Dept of Public Works, JCP&L and out-of-state crews safely, effectively and efficiently. Knowing how many customers are out of power just gives them numbers. They need a damage report. We are literally the first set of eyes in the neighborhood after each storm who can give them the information they need to get the trucks rolling. They need our help, and by helping them we will help everyone and promote quicker and less costly service restorations.
Todd Edelstein
2:15 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
@Scott Guibord, I totally agree with you about, " Even if JCP&L had the best utility system the world, it would not have made a difference.". and the need for town(Bernads Twp) volunteers to do that & more. I've been to the Twp meetings to voice that last year & at the last meeting again, but it seems the town doesn't want help from anyone who's not on the payroll, except for the volunteer FAS & FD.
PS Meeting tonight at 8 pm
Joseph Torres
11:33 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Maybe JCP&L should aspire to be the best utility system in the world that might help reduce outages, I can’t help but think that the main concern here, evidenced by the lack of maintenance is really that of sending profits back to Akron Ohio, granted this storm was unprecedented, but that doesn’t negate the prior outages we have experiences and the lack of reliability that now exist in the system, don’t we all just shudder a little when out lights flicker because our new experience makes us wonder just how many days will we be out of service this time?
I realize situations like a storm are fluid however when your business is such that weather is a factor you would think you would be a little more prepared in areas that you can control ,like communicating with your customers.
I hope that someone at the BPU and JCP&L takes you neighborhood coordinator idea seriously
That would save days if not hours of unproductive time.
chatham98
12:25 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
My - my, so many people know how to "fix" JCP&L - as if JCP&L was out to get them! In my experience, such folks are the problem - not part of a solution(s). Nothing is perfect. A calm and open discussion about issues and costs - that's right, many solutions have a cost - would be a better forum - not some open bitch session from people who, for the most part, have no idea what is really going on.
Tryclyde
1:11 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Yes, nothing is perfect, but JCP&L can be ALOT better in terms of communication and response. I should not have had a downed telephone pole in front of my house, untouched, for 11 days while the CEO of First Energy is pocketing $11 million in salary.
Susan
3:55 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
If people don't know, it's because they're not told. The problem people are complaining about is lack of communication. We don't understand how their organization works, what they have to do to get us up and running, or who is even available to help. They could help themselves a great deal by practicing some real public relations and tell us more (otherwise people will fill in the information gap on their own, and that doesn't help anyone).
Tammy
12:40 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
chatham98-No, I don't believe JCP&L is "out to get" any of us. I do believe that it is ridiculous that a company reports millions of dollars in profits (remember, profits are after all salaries, including over-paid executive salaries, and expenses are deducted) does not keep their equipment upgraded. The workers who were brought in to do repairs had not had to work on equipment such as ours in decades and the younger workers had not ever worked on equipment as antiquated as ours. How can they (JCP&L) and you justify multi million dollar profits while thousands of people were out of power far longer than necessary? How dare they ask for another rate hike?
roger freiday
1:01 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Now now Chatham 98, YOU are the one that knows zip, I have been at odds with JCPL for FORTY years about their miserable record and multiple outages. I have met with their staff in MY DRIVEWAY while they lie about what they can, or ''won't'' do to rectify. Bad for them though, I had one of THEIR retired linemen here, anonymously, and they would argue every point he made about what needs to be done. I have a line to one of their people, direct, because they KNOW that I will call and e Mail BPU and beat them up good. NOBODY has had more greif and contact with JCPL then me, and maybe our local politicos !
TCG
2:40 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Hate to say I told you so, but come on folks...why are any of you wasting your time at meetings with power companies? Do you truly believe the BPU (an appointed board) is listening? Do you think they will revoke JCP&L's contract? Do you honestly believe anything will be done? Wake up. The power companies are in bed with the BPU which is why they are able to carve out juicy bits of the state for themselves without residents having any input. It may feel good to vent at a meeting, but trust me, when the meeting ends, you go home frustrated and the BPU and power companies go home laughing. Ask yourself this question - did JCP&L pro-rate your bill for the days you were without power? And please...will someone...anyone...wake me up when a single power company loses a single town due to a single sanction from the BPU. Nothing is ever going to change because there is zero incentive for the power companies to change anything. Period.
LC
7:36 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
You are right. That's why I didn't waste my time going to the meeting. Heck - Christie just appointed the head of BPU to a judgeship.
chatham98
2:50 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
After those responses - I rest my case! Not a helpful comment in the bunch. All I hear is a bunch of cry babies. Come on - something constructive please. Try thinking of something positive - like you lived through it?
Cletus
9:08 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
It's one thing to wear rose colored glasses, quite another to angrily demand that everyone else put them on.
TCG
3:04 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
To say we lived through it isn't positive...it's a fact. It is also not crying to state that absolutely nothing will change when the next storm comes. Further, there is nothing postive or negative about the simple reality that the way the system is set up, the power companies are essentially protected by a political fire wall from suffering any consequences regardless of how they respond to a storm. The only one I hear crying is chatham98 because there are not enough happy shiny people thanking their lucky stars that they were only without power for 10 days.
TCG
3:06 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
By the way chatham98, if you know "what's actually going on" do fill us in.
Tammy
3:52 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
chatham98-How about you give us something positive about JCP&L? You call us crybabies for expressing our displeasure yet you give no reasons for you support of JCP&L.
chatham98
4:31 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Are you still without power? I'm impressed JCP&L got the power back to so many people so fast. There were so many wires and poles taken out I fully expected to be without power for at least the two weeks forecasted. As it was, I was out for a week. I'm not bitching! I can't get a grip on why you're complaining. I believe you expect entirely too much. That was one bad storm. Also, I'm not mad because someone got power before I did.
Walter O.
4:42 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
JCP&L should be ashamed of how they prepared and responded to the storms after effects. Truth is they suck and in the private world they would be canned, and rightfully so. Fact is there should be competition allowed and not just where your electric comes from but who is also providing and delivering. Everyone from the CEO to the guys on the street at JCP&L failed the people of NJ!
Viking66
6:02 pm on Tuesday, December 11, 2012
My Dear Tryclyde, why would JCP&L fix a downed TELEPHONE wire. That would be, um, let's see...the Telephone company's responsibility? Fine example of the ignorance surrounding much of the complaints agains the power company.
Tryclyde
1:33 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
First off, I said it was a telephone POLE (not just a wire) which had live power lines wrapped around it (good reading comprehension). Secondly, it was an ELECTRIC COMPANY from Kentucky that eventually removed the pole and put up a new one. Who's ignorant again?
Liz Kril
8:56 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
There is no reason to be nasty.
Patch Fan
6:59 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
12 days no power. To add insult to injury, JCP&L sends an estimated bill that includes the days without power. Hahaha. You can't make this stuff up.
Give me a choice of providers. JCP&L needs competition.
Steve
10:11 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I got an estimated bill too for the days without power during the storm. So i went to the web site to put my meeter reading in. The application would not accept my redding because it said it was too low. Asked me to verify it, i again submitted it but it was rejected again. I had to wait a week to get someone on the phone. If you get an estimated bill just send in $5.
Liz Kril
8:55 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
The next reading will probably be an actual reading, then your bill will be adjusted properly. I always go online and give my readings, I also, log it in a book.
Steve
10:04 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Liz, i know the next actual reading will even things out. Point is not the homeowner but JCP&L should be redding it every month unless they can't get to the meter due to sever weather. Some of the estimate are very high as well, my last estimate was about $50 high. I could cover it but some people can't, so they can just send in $5 until their meter gets read. Otherwise JCP&L is just getting an advance on your bill.
Paul Rust
8:40 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I think JCPL needs to have a list on their internet site each day displaying the number of work crews assigned for that day and where they are. There must be a coordination manager and a work plan! If we could at least see that work is taking place somewhere, against some set of priorities it would eliminate some of the frustration. Their general and way too non-specific announcements each day were worthless. Now that I know they have no mobile communication system I understand why they probably can't do it. There is technology readily available to pinpoint where power is off - but JCP&L operates as if we are in 1950 - driving around looking for downed wires.
BRER
9:58 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
How would knowing the number of work crews assigned where and when matter to residents, really?
BRER
10:02 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Try work hard or harder at a good or better job and make enough money to install a stand alone gas generator and then you will realize your urge to complain and entitle diminishes...
Steve
10:17 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I did that, but I should not have had too, I could have put that hard earned money to other uses. This is not a 3rd world country, expect if you live in a JCP&L territory.
Susan
4:00 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Exactly, Steve. Brer, why should ratepayers have to invest in a gas-powered backup for something they've already paid into? Especially when it seems quite possible the rates they paid didn't go into maintaining the infrastructure but enriching shareholders and executives? If someone should be paying a penalty, it doesn't seem like it should be me.
Karen Shepherd
10:11 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Would it be naive of me to suggest we consumers of JCPL consider organizing in our protest against continuing to have JCPL provide our electricity? We might have the potential to become a huge voting block. You know how politicians salivate/freeze at the mere scent of a vote. With Gov. Christie running again, we might get some action from him.
That definition of insanity keeps coming to mind: doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results. We're not just at the mercy of Mother Nature which is bad enough. We have to be our own advocates in order to drive the point home to those we've elected to serve (?) that we're not going to tolerate JCPL's malfeasance for another storm. We demand that another utility serve us.
BRER
10:17 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
And if you succeed, how to you evaluate how the other utility will serve you? How to you manage the odds the chances are better, same or worse than the current one?
BRER
10:36 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Steve, I would like to raise a point that I have previously belabored on during the post storm period. BR has many many trees overhanging utility wires and to some extent the storm showed us that in a rather painful way. And so far in this thread, it is interesting that no one has brought it up,,,hmmm. Guess it is easier to complain about a company than going up to a tree and bark on it, right, lol?
After a storm of Sandy's magnitude, most if not all things on its path were severely affected and thus in retrospect, unprepared or poorly prepared. It just so happened that in our town the trees knocked down wires/poles in many many places requiring extensive repair. S Finley looked like a war zone. To me it is very understandable that the utility company was going to scramble to meet the unprecedented demand. Sure they could have prepared better. Sure I could have picked the 6 correct numbers for lotto week after week. At the same time, we can also argue that those without stand alone generators could have prepared better. But, we would like to save expense and milk others for our benefit. Isn't that the ultimate truth???
So, Steve, answer this question: when private properties have many trees potentially falling onto the wires and poles, in the near future, say this winter, what do you do about that looming certainty? Is it utility company's responsibility to knock on every door to warn the residents to cut down the trees? Who is going to foot the bill?
Liz Kril
8:49 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
The town put the trees there, the town should cut them down.
Susan
4:02 pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I well remember the days when utilities would routinely trim back and remove trees (which are usually town trees) which were in the way of their wires. Now, they pocket the money and let the trees fall. And you're suggesting that they should demand the ratepayer trim back the trees?
Steve
11:01 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
BRER, it is not just Sandy and falling trees, I loose power on sunny days with no breezes and it takes hours to get power back. Since moving into a JCP&L territory 2 1/2 years ago, I have lost power more times, for more hours and days then in my entire 41+ years of living in a PSE&G territories. It is not like a NJ suburb is some rural country area, there is a large population here dependent on electricity. I don't think it is any secret that when First Energy took over JCP&L they have not invested an any infrastructure upgrades and they have skeleton crews here. JCP&L even admitted to me that they were reading the meter every other month because did they not want to hire more mete readers. Yet the company and upper management are making lots of money with their monopoly.
BRER
11:16 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Well, Steve, I thought we were talking about post Sandy power loss. It seems that you, possibly among others, have prior and ongoing issues with JCP. Sorry to hear that and I can see where you are coming from. How have they explained about those prior power loss?
I am not familiar enough with this, regulation wise or logistically: is it even possible that residents choose among utility companies, like old days landline phone carrieres? I think to make them truly compete among themselves, residents must be in the position to choose, instead having the entire town switch over..
Steve
11:54 am on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
JCP&L does not explain anything. You call a call center to report and outage or on their web site, the person on the other end of the phone is from out of state and just records your information. I this summer I reported an outage via the web site. I got a call back from the Morristown operations about 10 mins later asking me if we still had a power failure because they could not tell. As others have pointed out they have antiquated technology.
Edward P. Campbell
5:47 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Double their rates? They already are you twit. You must have been born, raised and never left Jersey. Flipping electric rates in other parts of this country are half what we pay. Wyoming pays $0.064/kwh, Kentucky $0.063/kwh and we here in Jersey $0.143/kwh! More than Double! Just think, if you moved to Kentucky and used 2,500kwh over a hot summer month your electric bill for the same house as here in Jersey would only be $157.00 as compared to Jersey’s $357.00. Do you wonder why so many manufacturing and other industries has moved out of Jersey? Do you THINK the cost of Jersey’s unreliable, dirty, almost a sine wave, almost 60hz, might be on, more likely off electric has anything to do with it?
Liz Kril
8:47 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I moved out hear in 1999 in a new development. I was amazed at how many outages there were for a new development. Even though it is considered a rural area, I think that is an excuse. The utility companies didn't expect another storm, so close to Irene. Utility companies think that they can still use the antiquated technology and still raise their prices. Instead, they use that money to build more towers and we're stuck in the dark.
Reality Checker
12:15 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
You might as well outsource JCP&L customer service overseas. The information you get from them is bad and so are the hold times and response time to address the problem. Of course I can remember when electric companies actually did line maintenance and tree trimming to minimize outages -- those days are long gone as corporate short term greed prevails over your quality of life.
Sick of the trolls
4:10 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
That is a fantastic idea, RC! We should outsource you overseas! You can get a nice tropical vacation somewhere far from Parsippany, and still be as grumpy and angry as ever somewhere far from Parsippany. Hey, let me ask you this: if JCP&L were to, say, double the rates of your electricity in order to pay for the maintenance you expect them to perform, would you be singing praises to their wonderful service, or whining and crying about how expensive it is? Because you can't have both cheap electric and good service, they just don't go together.
Then again, I'm sure you remember the heady days when Edison was fighting with Tesla over whether or not AC or DC would be the predominant form of electricity in the US. In fact, I bet you were there when Ben Franklin discovered it, weren't you? You tied the key to his kite for him, I bet. That must be why you're so smart and have the solution to everything, right? And that's why you don't use your real name, because it would reveal to the world that you are in fact Methuselah, the oldest man alive. At least that would explain your sunny disposition.
Cletus
12:34 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
S.O.T.T., do you have a mirror on your screen? Reality Checker's comment was quite calm, brief and reasonable, whereas yours was the angry tirade that you accuse R.C. of. In short, you've become that which you claim to be "sick of".
roger freiday
1:41 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Ahh, grasshoppers ! you know little of the JCPL farce. I live in Long Valley, since 1966, on a private road, END of the electric line in TWO directions ! 1- JCPL NEVER trimmed trees, even the part they are supposed to, until Irene. 2- we have had DOZENS of outages in this ''BLACK HOLE'' in my area (JCPL's OWN terminology for us, here at a town meeting!) in ANY weather ANY time of year. When we get a snow, or ice or t-storm, I fire up the wood stove or generator(s). Sri Lanka has NOTHING on us!! As to ''how would we know who may be worse, or how someone NEW would perform ?? EASY ! It CANNOT BE WORSE than these bumbilng, inefficient, cost cutting, under-staffed #&&XX!!?? buttheads ! You all have NO IDEA of my experences with this parasitic bunch of fools.
Doug
2:23 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
It was a huge storm, lot's of damage everywhere and everyone expected to be without power for days. Stop your complaining and do something productive.
roger freiday
2:32 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
yeah, you're right Dougie, we all should just fold up like you would. By the way, what is your position at First Enegry?
Oldtimer
5:10 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Just curious. Did anyone at the meeting happen to ask Don Lynch how long his house was without power? He'd be an idiot if he didn't have a generator.
Hugs
5:15 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
I blame the towns. They are at least 50% responsible. It was their trees that knocked over most of the wires and poles and transformers. They were the ones who planted all those tall oaks 50+ years ago along the curbs. Hey, how come no one is blaming Verizon and Cablevision? I was without phone and cable just as long as I was without power!
Liz Kril
8:35 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I agree. There is no reason to plant trees that grow 20+ ft. The towns plant them and the home owner has to maintain them which is costly.
Oldtimer
5:18 pm on Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Oh yeah, one more thing. I bet if Apple made generators everyone would run out and buy one. So instead of pissing away money on the next "latest and greatest", maybe put that towards a generator?? It ain't going to get any better, and it isn't gov'ts job to provide for you. Anyone who complains next time it happens,well, it's your fault for not preparing. You've had 2 good warnings already.
Mikey
7:42 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
If you think any of this discussion and finger pointing will make one bit of difference for future storms you are a dreamer. The power companies have gone through many similar disasters in the past and have always simply rebuilt and patched up the same old antiquated power system to get things going again.
We need to rely on ourselves to mitigate the hassle of future outages. I now have a generator and transfer switch installed, tested, and ready to go; as well as a good supply of fuel to run it. With it we can continue to run our heat, hot water, sewer pump, and other essentials without dependence on JCP&L. This of course has cost some money to set up and also will be expensive to run, but it is the only way to make sure we won't be shivering in the dark again. Remember, winter is just starting! All it will take is a big nor'easter or ice storm to bring it all down again.
roger freiday
7:52 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
I am sick of, ''sick of the trolls'', he got a good answer from ''Ed'' about ''cheap electricity'' ! There might be one or two places (Long Island) where it's more costly than here but for CRAPPY service and FREQUENT OUTAGES JCPL gets the blue ribbon. Chatham 98 obviously has NOT suffered through the enormous number and length of outages that many others in Morris have endured. Try 4, 6, 8 and now FOURTEEN days in four years, along with a dozen others each year, for god knows WHAT reason ! As far as ''Hugs'' mentioning cable or land line outages, a good point BUT they are NO WAY as frequent and lengthy as JCPL with this one exception of Sandy. My pals in Netcong never had any outages until the last two years and, now they are getting the same treatment. I suspect the JCPL supporters either live in metro areas with short and infrequent outages OR they are connected to the industry. Myself, yes I would, accept a reasonable increase in rate structure for GENUINE improvements but let us not forget that First Energy is already raping us, and even the sloth like BPU has called them in on excess profits !
Sick of the trolls
9:00 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Mr. Freiday, I have no beef with you. You're crazy, and I genuinely disagree with some of the things you say (not all of them, for the record), but at least you have the guts to stand up and own your crazy by signing your name to it. Good luck.
roger freiday
9:15 am on Thursday, December 13, 2012
Wow man, it is refreshing when the ''lunatic fringe'' calls me crazy, after all, it's that kind of sincerity that is missing so often in today's society. Why be crazy if it don't show, and no one knows WHO you ARE.
Larry Pearce
7:53 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
as a lifelong resident of Warren JCP&L has NEVER been equal to PSE&G that is a fact. In this day and age why are the lines above ground? Why havn't towns made it code to put lines underground? Lets not put ALL the blame on the utility co. Why does it take so long to clear the roads of trees? Today we have more of everything....police, road dept, residents etc...everything takes longer. You can drive down the road today and look at tomorows problems....you just have to look!
BRER
8:48 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
Sure, may be when you pay much higher tax to cover the expense of in ground lines you will wonder aloud even more?
But I do appreciate your mentioning of the trees near the lines which is close to my heart, haha.
BRER
8:49 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
Hey, what about that broken pole being "splinted" with a piece of wood on Valley Road near the golf course and gas station? So comical and lame!
Larry Pearce
9:19 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
the taxes are higher than ever......the roi...is less than ever!... trickle down goverment
Liberty
9:36 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
It's very, very expensive to put utilities underground as an upgrade. The cost would translate to higher rates for the consumer, as would any upgrade. There is also only so much manpower on the DPW to clear roads, etc. It was a "storm of the century" that really tested everyone. You're right about driving down the road and seeing tomorrow's problems. But we could all help somewhat by assessing our own little pieces of heaven and removing trees/branches that are a threat to utility lines. Mikey is right, too, about investing in a generator and having a fuel supply ready to go. Water and a non-perishables stash also. We have a water stash, being on a well.
However, in 20+ years on the mountain, with the exception of Sandy, our longest power outage in all that time was 23 hrs. Sandy was 5 days of outage and a large tree falling on the roof. We never saw power trucks working on our street, but there were no downed lines and the power source was around the corner and down a block. My question is: when everything is running smoothly and we have water, power, etc., are we personally, doing anything preventative for future events? It's all relative--thousands of people on the shore don't even have a home anymore, and others had structural damage and severe flooding. I'm sure they would have traded all that for one or two weeks w/o power.
Liberty
9:38 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
Ok, it may be corny, but when I was lighting candles every night, piling on the blankets, and using a bucket of water to flush.....I thought of 19th century pioneers whose entire lives were much worse, OR, the present-day hardships of our own servicemen and women in s**tholes in the Middle East. Merry Christmas to all!
Larry Pearce
9:40 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
BRER....you have no problem in other blogs that intersections need to be wider or more cameras needed.....those are wants....not needs. yes the cost to put wires underground would be high....but the savings down the road would be great!
Larry Pearce
10:30 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
I worked in constuction all my life....put in utility lines underground....the cheepest is power..... hey they don't have to go underground tomorow....but by 2022? How many motor vehicles have taken utility poles out? A town can put islands in with curb & plants, buy freespace, put in ball fields, restore historic property, traffic lights, and on and on......underground would be safer and more reliable.....as for the coast this storm has been on the books for decades! Your goverment knew about it for at least 30 years of the storm surge...just as they knew the levees would not hold Katrina. Is Bound Brook flooding because of global warming? Or the fact that up on the high ground buildings keep going up & driveway & parking lots paved, new roofs, and the water runs downhill instead of perking?
Larry Pearce
10:35 am on Friday, December 14, 2012
Higher rates.......they want them now! Think of what they would save....no bucket trucks, linemen, toxic telephone poles, tree men etc....please it would not be that difficult.
Bob
1:07 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
BS, BEFORE the storm it took JCPL three months- 3 months ! To fix the broken street lights in our neighborhood. The township pays a fixed bill for the electricity these lights where they work or not ( there's no meter to measure). JCPL pocketed the money without providing service. Someone needs to audit these crooks
Bob
1:12 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
BTW, I don't recall seeing JCPL doing any routine maintenance work like trimming trees BEFORE the storm. Do you? How much are they actually spending on maintenance and planning ?
Liberty
1:25 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Actually, approximately a month before the storm JCP&L left notices on our street that they would be coming through and trimming branches and possibly even removing some trees that were in danger of coming down--near power lines. Even though they wouldn't do stump removal, they would've put a chemical on the stump to make it disintegrate faster. They worked the neighborhood for 3 days. Don't know what it cost...
Bob
1:25 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Even in India they don't loose power for more than a few days - because if they do, they go banging on the utility minister's door and threaten to lynch him if the sh** isn't fixed. We're much more civilized here ... where does Anthony Alexander live again?
Bob
1:30 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Here's a thought: How 'bout we kick JCPL out without a penny ( since they've been stealing from us for years ) and hold an auction for the franchise. Plus, make the franchise only good for 5 yr periods. Force the companies to compete for our business.
chatham98
9:09 am on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Bitch, bitch, bitch - what a bunch of whiners. Embarrassing to read the junk you people bitch about. A few days, or a week or so, without power as the result of a 100 year storm and you think the world is ending. Get a grip! Find something important to bitch about.
roger freiday
1:06 pm on Saturday, December 15, 2012
Whiners oh ? What the hell do YOU know about it ? Chatham98, oh yeah, Chatham is a HIGH OUTAGE town right ? Try it out here where we have it constantly, from 25 seconds to 4 hours, to 4, 6, 8, 13 days ! and often NO weather problems, just anitquated lines and lack of local repair crews. If JCPL had a GOOD track record, THEN it might be ''bitching'' but they DO NOT, HAVE NOT and I expect will continue to NOT. Maybe you get a raise from First Energy when you report in Monday, for supporting the un-supportable.!
Okie dokiee
9:04 am on Sunday, December 16, 2012
Boo hoo! I lost power and can't watch reruns of Sex and the City. Do most of you live in a hole? We were ALL warned about the storm, we were ALL warned about the lengthy power outages to come. So ALL of us should of been ready for it. If you decided to not prepare I have NO sympathy for you....none.
Cletus
12:26 pm on Monday, January 7, 2013
None? None at all? Dang, I was counting on at least a smidgen from you. How do I go on?
Corthree
11:57 pm on Sunday, January 6, 2013
JCP&L is the worst!! all they had to do, was have a couple of crews going around and see what blade switches they could pull closer to damaged lines... They would have had thousands of consumers back on-line within a few days. The only crew I saw for 10 days just drove right by and thats all was wrong with our entire street. A simple blade switch was down. Just plain unacceptable.
chatham98
8:10 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
You whiners scare me. You have no concept of reality. You believe the world should be perfect - by your definition - and have no tolerance for variance. Very selfish. This sort of me - me attitude is exactly what's going wrong in this country and destroying it!
Corthree
10:09 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
chatham98 by your definition we should just all sit back and do nothing, Nothing is wrong with anything. LOL WOW what world do you live in??
chatham98
11:39 am on Monday, January 7, 2013
Corthree -------- I try to live in the real world - not some artificial reality created by the media and the entertainment industry. My point is, that the whiners are focused on someone doing something for them. Come on. The reality is that the power is back on and it wasn't as bad as it could have been. IF people had trimmed their trees properly, taken out the sick trees, and anticipated the danger of falling trees, things could have been even better. But no, they want to bitch about how someone else was responsible for their poor planning and foresight. Things could have been smoother with the power company, but you know - people could have done a better job of anticipating too. I just think all this bitching about the power company is a adolescent way of trying to make the future better. Focus on what really matters and take some responsibility for what happens - because - you and all your neighbors have a greater responsibility for the power being out so long than the power company.
Corthree
3:44 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I agree with you. I trimmed my trees and so did my neighbors. we didn't have any lines down on our street. JCP&L came out the day after the storm and pulled our blade switch at the main phase so they could get the main phase back up. They didn't come back for 10 days to simply push our blade switch back up. That switch could have been pulled closer to the lines that were down over 2 miles up another road! That to me is unacceptable!
roger freiday
7:54 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Too bad they closed Hagedorn sanitorium, Chatham 98 could use a good ''electro-shock'' therapy, EXCEPT that if it's JCPL it might be an OUTAGE. It was'nt AS BAD ?? THIRTEEN DAYS ? on top of 4, 6 and 8 days in four years ? Well Mr. JCPL employee, I have TWO generators, a wood furnace, and numerous emergency lights, and you know why? Because I AM PREPARED, so do not give me that ''individual responsibilty'' stuff. Do you really expect the public to be trimming trees around hot power lines, or on a right of way ? Again, if JCPL had a good track record and we had a lengthy outage from a big storm it would be less of a crisis. THEY DO NOT have ANY track record except of bumbling, expensive, inefficient, antiquated ''service''. We pay THREE times the KW /hr rates of most of the country and get to spend fortunes on generators and associated equipment to compensate for this pack of fools who use the locals as a cash cow for the parent company. I would like to bring up the ''Moreland Commission'' in New York, who recommend REVOKING L.I.P.A's franchise - THAT is what we need here, As bad as ALL Nj power companies may be, it is ALWAYS JCPL with the MOST outages and LONGEST restoration times ! It's really bad when, every time there is snow sleet or ice in the forecast, I HAVE TO fire up the wood stove, and start the generators KNOWING what is coming. Even now, we still have poles with new sections GRAFTED onto the broken ones, same for crossbars at the top!
chatham98
10:57 am on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Let's see, 30 days out of 1460 is 2% down time. That's more reliable than most things and, that includes a 100 year storm. I can't grasp the reason for the incessant bitching. If you looked closely you would no doubt find that trees were a major reason for the 2% outage. Don't use some lame excuse about cutting around live wires - you hire that done or get JCP&L to do the work - or - live with the 2%. Big deal!
The Stig
12:47 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
You have to be joking. 98%, or ten full days ever year without electricity is acceptable?
Utilities should be available between 99.9 and 99.99% of the time. That would be a total of 1 to 8 hrs per year, and that would be factoring in the "100 Year Storm".
Anything less is unacceptable.
chatham98
4:47 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
My point was - with the consumers trees falling all over the lines 2% isn't bad. Get with a trimming and tree care program and 99.99% may be achievable. Trees are not the power company's problem entirely you know.
I just cannot believe so many people think that JCP&L or any power company can be responsible for all the power outages. It is just wrong thinking! It is convenient thinking - but dead wrong! A significant burden belongs to the home and land owners to protect the wires from falling trees, etc.
roger freiday
8:23 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Are you daft 98 ? WHERE else in the country does anyone have to deal with this crap? NOBODY is as lame as JCPL ! Let me say it again so it can SINK IN - IF they had a GOOD track record and IF there was a BIG STORM then it might be acceptable to expect lengthy delays. THEY DO NOT have any such ''good' record, only one of high rates, customer be damned, send the money to Ohio (or wherever the bastards reside) and cut repair crews to the bone. ALL the while we are paying Cadillac prices for YUGO service. I ain't making it up, 40+ years of s--t service and lies and miserable response time. If you ''98'' are not an employee or married to one of JCPL's slaves, I cannot imagine what drives your ''logic''. THEY SUCK ! Good enough ?
Edward P. Campbell
9:07 pm on Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Mr. 98 – Have you traveled in PSE&G’s area? Did you see the extra high poles they’ve been installing to mitigate tree problems? How about all the new sub-stations they are building, right along with all the new transmission lines, and let us not forget their commitment to solar power and all the solar panels they have put up!
What has JCP&L up-dated lately? President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony J. Alexander, office? Yea, I thought so!
PS. Why is no one up in arms over PSE&G? Could it be this was the first power failure I've ever encountered as a PSE&G customer over the last 18 year? How's that for Up-Time?
chatham98
9:23 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
I hate to disappoint those of you who think I work for or have friends at JCP&L. I don't think I even know anyone who works for JCP&L. I'm just appalled that so many people seemed to have lost perspective and remain all emotional about the loss of power. I can't imagine the reaction to a serious situation. Uncontrollable panic comes to mind. You read the entire blog and it reads like a bunch of 10 year old kids talking. Problem solvers or adults (excuse me - rational adults) it does not sound like. I think the folks have the capacity for a better, more mature reaction that what I have seen. I'm just looking for it - somewhere out there.
roger freiday
11:25 am on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
ah ha haaaa mr .98 we sure don't get a rational reaction form YOUR end. Me, I do not LIKE geting SCREWED all the while paying the (damn near) HIGHEST KW/Hr rates in the WHOLE COUNTRY. I like to think one should get your money's worth. This is especially true of neighborhoods like mine, with many elderly and infrim retirees who are dependant on being WARM and in some cases having access to life sustaining medically required machines/ equipment. Other than maybe L.I.P.A., it would be difficult to find another bastion of ineptitude and ''give a damn'' like JCPL has shown us over the decades.
Edward P. Campbell
12:03 pm on Wednesday, January 9, 2013
He Doesn’t Get It! We pay 2 to 3 times what other people pay in the United States for power. He needs to understand if he gets a $300.00 electric bill here, in Kentucky it would be $100.00. He needs to understand too, those of us living in the more remote areas of NJ are told we will not have our power restored until everyone else’s is back on, but we still pay the very same rate as the first class citizens who get their power back first.
He seriously needs to look at the improvements made by PSE&G, and he needs to accept the fact that in the last 18 years as a PSE&G customer, I’ve never had a power failure and I live in a remote area. He needs to understand in 99.999999% of the rest of the country, people go decades without power failures of the types and duration JCP&L customers have experienced lately. Finally, he really needs to get a grip on the fact that JCP&L's, commitment to their customers is appalling, and their infrastructure is not only way out of date, but it is also very poorly designed, poorly implemented, and poorly documented, not to mention the fact it is poorly maintained, and grossly mismanaged!
Yes Virginia, in the year 2012, in the heart of New Jersey, one can expect to have power 24*7*365.