Open Houses Give Residents a Look at JCP&L Oceanview Project

As more people have moved into the area the need for more power has grown for JCP&L and recently the utility announced plans for a new source that should help customers throughout Monmouth County.

Known as the Oceanview Reinforcement Project the utility is proposing building a new 23kV line between the Larrabee Substation in Howell and the Oceanview Substation in Neptune. Ron Morano said the Oceanview plan is part of an overall $200 million Light Local Infrastructure Transmission Enhancement (LITE) program.

As part of their plan for approval the utility recently held a pair of open houses in Monmouth County to show local residents how the plan would impact their daily lives if the plan is approved and construction gets underway.

By adding the line Morano said JCP&L will be able to provide for an increase in demand for electricity.  “This is what we call a reinforcement project,” he said. The new line, if approved would right through the same path as the existing two lines with all three on new monopoles. He said the demand for energy in the state is increasing three times as fast as the population over the past 10 years.

The new line, he said would “provide additional support to the existing system,” while also, “prevent customers from experiencing any real liability related issues.” Morano said the new line would be a “backbone,” of the system. “This meets a need in the area and part of it is the increase in growing demand,” he said. “this will help us serve customers for years to come.”

The new monopoles would be betweehn 70 and 90 feet and would replace the current wooden double poles that currently line the right of way.

One area which Morano said he was unsure of was what the costs would mean for the ratepayers. The current plan should be filed as an application in December with the Board of Public Utilities. The goal would be to have the project finished by 2017.