Company offers tips to help customers save energy during
peak heat months
MORRISTOWN, N.J., June 20,
2022 /PRNewswire/ -- With anticipated higher electric
usage and severe weather possible during the hot summer months,
Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of
FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), has completed equipment inspections
and maintenance throughout its central and northern New Jersey service area to help enhance
service reliability for customers.
Nearly 800 miles of high-voltage transmission lines have been
inspected via helicopter patrols and on foot to help identify
tree-related issues, damaged wires, broken cross arms and other
hardware problems. Any potential reliability issues identified
during the inspections are addressed as quickly as
possible.
JCP&L personnel also used thermovision cameras
to capture infrared images of electrical equipment that can
detect potential problems within substations and on power lines
that cannot be observed during regular visual inspections. The
infrared technology shows heat on a color scale, with brighter
colors or "hot spots" indicating areas that could need repairs.
These images can identify equipment issues such as loose
connections, corrosion and load imbalances, and utility workers are
able to make repairs to prevent potential power outages in the
future.
In anticipation of increased electric demand due to tourism,
JCP&L crews have strategically staged critical equipment, such
as mobile substations, closer to Jersey Shore and barrier island
communities. This important step will allow crews to respond to the
higher demand for electricity and help restore power faster should
outages occur following a major weather event. These areas
typically absorb much of a hurricane's or tropical storm's force as
it makes landfall.
In northern New Jersey, flood
walls have been tested at substations that are prone to impacts
from overflowing rivers and streams during tropical rains. Last
year, these measures successfully kept these facilities dry and the
power flowing during several tropical events.
JCP&L personnel also participated in a storm restoration
drill to test the company's response to threats associated with the
Atlantic hurricane season, which began on June 1. More than 75 JCP&L staff members and
observers from the New Jersey
Board of Public Utilities (BPU) took part in the exercise on
May 25. Utilizing the federal
Incident Command System (ICS), teams practiced restoration plans,
communications and collaboration with local governments to prepare
for large-scale weather events that may impact the state. Experts
are again predicting an "above-average" hurricane season in the
Atlantic basin.
"Preparation is key to preventing or minimizing the impact of
power outages as hot weather and the hurricane season begin across
our state," said James Fakult,
president of New Jersey operations
for FirstEnergy. "We have taken important steps to help ensure our
customers have safe, reliable electric service throughout the
summer months."
Customers can get tips to prepare in advance of severe weather,
and view restoration updates if storms do cause power outages, by
visiting FirstEnergy's 24/7 Power Center
at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.
With the summer storm season also comes higher-than-usual
temperatures and rising energy costs. Customers can take steps to
beat the heat while also managing their electricity bill this
summer. The following tips can help customers use electricity
wisely during this period of high demand:
- Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow. Every degree a
customer can increase the temperature in their home will result in
using about 3 percent less energy during the summer.
- Use fans – moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater
comfort on hot days.
- During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing
the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior
temperatures.
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat to keep temperatures
higher when no one is home and to reduce the temperature before
arrival back home.
- Seal any leaks with caulk or weather stripping to prevent hot
air from sneaking into your home.
- Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters
waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than
necessary.
- Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours
of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air
conditioner must do.
- Payment arrangements and assistance programs are available for
customers who need help with their electric bills. For more
information, visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist.
Summer is also a time when contractors and homeowners spend more
time outdoors completing projects. Important
outdoor electrical safety tips are available at
www.firstenergycorp.com/publicsafety.
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
Twitter @JCP_L, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JCPandL or
online at www.jcp-l.com.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its 10 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. Follow FirstEnergy on
Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at
www.firstenergycorp.com.
Editor's Note: Photos of workers conducting
thermovision inspections to enhance service reliability for
FirstEnergy customers are available for download on Flickr. A video
of utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection and
explaining the work can be found on the company's YouTube
channel.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.