MORRISTOWN, N.J., Nov. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Almost 8,000 linemen are part of a massive effort to restore power to Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) customers following last week's Hurricane Sandy and this week's nor'easter.
Approximately 60,000 JCP&L customers on the New Jersey mainland remain without power. The majority of these customers, including those who experienced new outages as a result of the nor'easter, will have power restored by late this evening. In some communities where service wires to individual homes must be replaced, power will be restored by late Sunday evening.
In the Barrier Islands and some of the shoreline communities where the storm devastation is most severe, about 30,000 customers remain without power. While progress has been made in repairing the transmission system to this area, JCP&L continues working with state and local officials on developing and implementing a full restoration plan and timeline to connect affected customers safely.
As local power lines are repaired and put back in service, damage to individual customer service wires may delay final restoration to homes. To expedite the restoration process, JCP&L is working with local officials to identify these affected "single no lights" customers to see if a repair needs to be made to the home by a licensed electrician before service can be reconnected.
In West Virginia, more than 3,700 utility workers, including more than 1,800 linemen, continue to repair damage caused by high wind and wet, heavy snow in the higher elevations. Power has been restored to more than 95 percent of the approximately 230,000 customers affected by the severe weather. Currently, approximately 8,700 Mon Power customers remain without service. Restoration for customers in the most heavily damaged areas, including parts of Barbour, Nicholas, Preston, Randolph, Tucker, Upshur and Webster counties should be completed by the end of the weekend.
To report an outage, customers should call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877). If power has been restored to your neighbors, but your power remains out, be sure to report the outage. The issue could be isolated to an individual home and require further repairs.
As restoration work continues, customers are cautioned never to touch downed lines. Always assume downed wires are carrying electricity and keep children and pets away from them. Downed wires should be reported immediately to your electric company or local police or fire department. Customers should never try to remove trees or limbs from power lines because they could conduct electricity. They should wait for emergency services or utility crews to arrive.
For updated information on the company's current outages, FirstEnergy's storm restoration process and tips for staying safe, visit the 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages. JCP&L customers can find the latest information on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL. FirstEnergy operating companies also are providing updates via Twitter @JCP_L and @MonPowerWV.
FirstEnergy (NYSE: FE) is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and West Virginia. Its generation subsidiaries control more than 20,000 megawatts of capacity from a diversified mix of scrubbed coal, non-emitting nuclear, natural gas, hydro, pumped-storage hydro and other renewables.
Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.
SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
