Jersey Central Power & Light finishes inspections, maintenance ahead of summer storm season

Using a mix of ground-based visual inspections and helicopter patrols, Jersey Central Power & Light concluded surveys and maintenance on hundreds of miles of power lines this spring in preparation for the heat and stormy weather that summer brings.

The FirstEnergy Corp. subsidiary accounted for more than 700 miles of high-voltage transmission lines, searching for damaged wire, broken cross arms, or other equipment issues. Its efforts were complemented by infrared images collected to identify potential problems with substations and lines that could not be observed through regular visual inspections.

“Our maintenance and inspection programs are designed to ensure that we can provide the safe and reliable electric service our customers need to keep cool and comfortable during the hot, stormy summer months and to meet the demands on our system that accompany the influx of seasonal tourism in our service territory,” Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy’s president of New Jersey, said.

In preparation for an above-normal hurricane season, critical equipment was staged closer to the Jersey Shore and barrier island communities to help crews respond quicker to outages and to keep up with higher demands caused by tourism. That region takes the brunt of any hurricane or tropical storm landfall each year. With the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicting anywhere from 17-25 named storms and 8-13 hurricanes this year, crews prioritized response capability.

Additionally, crews tested flood walls at substations in northern New Jersey to ensure they would withstand overflowing rivers and tropical rains.

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