JCP&L to Present Council With Upgrade Status

As part of a traveling show to inform municipal officials of changes made since 2011, Jersey Central Power & Light representatives are coming to Hackettstown to give an update on the area’s electrical service.

Stan Prater, area manager for the utility company, will give a presentation to the Hackettstown Mayor and Council at its regular meeting Thursday night, according to Ron Morano, spokesperson for the company.

“Stan will be updating the mayor and council about the significant enhancements JCP&L has made to provide customers and elected officials accurate and timely information and new technologies being utilized,” Morano said in an email to Hackettstown Patch.

Morano said representatives are discussing the company’s “commitment to continuous improvement to deliver customers the quality of service they expect and deserve.”

Hackettstown, along with much of northern New Jersey, was walloped by two natural disasters in 2011–both arriving within two months of each other.

Hurrican Irene made landfall in New Jersey on Aug. 28, 2011, flooding the streets of Hackettstown and cutting power for days. On Oct. 29, nearly one year ago, the area was pounded by a foot of snow that took out power and trees–again for hours and days at a time.

"The storm last October was one of the most destructive we’ve seen in many years," Hackettstown Administrator Bill Kuster said. "The combination of wet heavy snow, leaves still on the trees and the winds all contributed to extensive branches, trees and power lines down."

The town opened the National Guard Armory on Willow Grove Street as a shelter and was available for residents and non-residents alike, Kuster said.

JCP&L spent much of the spring and summer undertaking an aggressive tree-cutting program that the company said would remove much possibility of arbors falling onto or taking down power lines.

The mayor and council will meet at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7:30 p.m. at the municipal building.