Trees Main Cause Of JCP&L Power Outages In Basking Ridge, Investigation Finds

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Trees were found to be the main culprit of the power outages experienced in Bernards Township, according to Jersey Central Power & Lighting (JCP&L)'s reliability investigation

JCP&L Regional External Affairsto the Township Committee Bob Flynn presented to the Township Committee on Tuesday.

The Township Committee requested the reliability investigation following repeated power outages from JCP&L in June and July.

"We had a very challenging summer in a lot of parts of New Jersey. And it really started with the heat wave that was at the end of May and continued through August. And we are still dealing with other issues… wildfire," said Flynn on Tuesday. "I am here tonight because we did have a challenging summer in terms of the high heat, in terms of the storms, and the reliability in some of our municipalities."

Overall, JCP&L has 7 substations spread throughout the Township which included Bernardsville Sub, Chambers Brook Sub, Dead River Sub, King George Sub, Lyons Sub, Ridge Sub, and Somerset Sub.

"The biggest culprit in terms of our distribution outages… is tree contact," said Flynn.

Other factors include equipment failure, animals, and line failure.

Flynn then broke down what the causes of the outages were by each substation and what was being done to correct the issues.

Bernardsville Substation:

• Equipment Failure - 18 percent
• Line Failure - 13 percent
• Trees - 40 percent

Reliability work - Bernardsville circuit relocation project to begin Sept. 9. $1.5 million project will relocate the main artery of the circuit reducing the likelihood of outages due to trees.

Chambers Brook Substation:

• Animal - 47 percent

Reliability work - Circuit inspection performed on 2022, reducing the main cause of outages - animal contact - for the following years.

Dead River Substation:

• Trees - 17 percent
• Animal - 19 percent
• Line Failure - 43 percent

Reliability work - Next circuit inspection schedule to 2025 and 2026. Before inspection dates, engineering will follow up on data analysis to locate sections of circuit with concentrated CMI and provide solutions to improve reliability.

King George Substation:

• Line Failure - 74 percent

Reliability work - Next circuit inspections scheduled to 2026 and 2027. Before inspection dates, engineering will follow up on data analysis to locate sections of circuit with concentrated CMI and provide solutions to improve reliability.

Lyons Substation:

• Trees - 22 percent
• Vehicle - 52 percent

Reliability work - Major outage cause - trees on and off the right of way - noticeably reduced after the forestry cycle was completed in 2020. Next forestry cycle is to be completed by the end of 2024 to continue circuit improvements.

Ridge Substation:

• Equipment Failure - 26 percent
• Line Failure - 19 percent
• Trees - 37 percent

Reliability work - The forestry cycle is scheduled to be completed in 2025 to help reduce outages due to forestry. Concurrent with forest work, engineering will follow up on data analysis to locate sections of the circuit with concentrated CMI and provide solutions to improve reliability.

Somerset Substation:

• Animal - 13 percent
• Trees - 15 percent
• Line Failure - 22 percent
• Equipment Failure - 36 percent

Reliability work - Circuit inspection performed. Proposed allocating funds to upgrade fuses, replace crossarms, and poles, reconductoring, and install sectionalizers at every lateral.

"I want to thank you for coming in, appearing before this body giving this presentation. Certainly, as you yourself acknowledged, outages are frustrating to both our residents, us up here who live here, yourself. You coming in here and explaining a lot of this stuff I think is helpful," said Committeeman Andrew McNally.

"It elucidates the fact that electricity gets to us by human beings building infrastructure that is susceptible to weather, animals, you name it and it doesn't get here by magic," said McNally.

Mayor Jennifer Asay noted the importance of reporting a tree problem to JCP&L since it is a main factor of causing outages.

To report a tree problem is under the Service Request on JCP&L's website.

Flynn said JCP&L will come out within 72 hours to asses the situation and determine if limb or tree removal is needed.

"They're the main culprit for our outages. We are an electric company, not a tree company so we do go through those budgets quickly. So I would advocate customers that are concerned that a tree that is not 50 feet on your property but maybe it's near our wires... It's a lot cheaper for us to remove that tree than to replace five poles and that's how we view it," said Flynn.

Watch the full JCP&L presentation below (begins at 29:00):

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