PSE&G Gives Hopatcong $50,000 Generator

Hopatcong recently received a generator thanks to the generosity of PSE&G that will allow it to power its department of public works building and a nearby fire station.

Michael Francis, the borough council's president, had been searching for a generator for the two buildings for nearly a year. He had tried several avenues, including state officials and the military, when he finally thought about approaching Public Service Electric and Gas.

Francis contacted the company in early June about donating a generator, but none was available. He heard back a few weeks later that Union County College had been given a generator from PSE&G but was not using it. So, borough officials went down to the college and picked it up.

"It was just sitting there," Francis said. "They had no use for it, but for us, it's perfect. I'm just thrilled. A main generator is a big item. I'm really pleased that PSE&G was nice enough to make it available."

The 115-kilowatt generator would have cost the borough about $50,000 if it had to buy it, a cost too high during these tight economic times.

"We never would have been able to afford a generator of this size," said Catherine Steinel, the borough administrator.

The generator will be able to provide enough power for both the department of public works and fire station No. 3, both of which are crucial to providing services to the community and neither of which had a backup power source in case of a blackout, Francis said.

The borough will have to connect some power lines between the two buildings so the generator can service both. That could cost as much as $30,000, Steinel said, but that cost also may be reduced to one-third that price if PSE&G can donate some of the equipment needed to connect the buildings.

Representatives from PSE&G did not return several messages seeking comment.

Francis said Steinel and George Sous, a PSE&G regional public affairs manager, were key to making the donation happen and he was thankful for all their efforts.

"We're struggling as it is and it's really critical we watch our spending," Francis said. "This is just such a super development."