Grant Enhances Grids During JCP&L Outages in Morris County

Morris County’s electric utility provider, Jersey Central Power & Light, has received a grant from the Department of Energy for new apparatus that could shorten outages by as much as 30-percent.

JCP&L has installed 15 advanced recloser devices on three different circuits in portions of Bernards Township, Harding Township, Morristown and Morris Township, the utility provider announced Friday. A recloser is a type of circuit breaker that automatically restores power during short interruptions that can be caused by tree branches or other foreign objects hitting power lines.

The recloser can also be accessed remotely by JCP&L technicians that will allow them to switch circuits, reducing the length of outages.

“JCP&L continually seeks opportunities to modernize our system utilizing new

technologies that enhance service reliability,” said James Fakult, president of JCP&L in a statement. “As part of the Department of Energy’s Smart Grid program, we expect to spend $1.3 million in Morris County over the next two years to support our high quality service.”