Company offers tips to help customers save
energy during peak heat months
HOLMDEL,
N.J., June 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Jersey
Central Power & Light (JCP&L), a subsidiary of FirstEnergy
Corp. (NYSE: FE), has completed equipment inspections and
maintenance throughout its central and northern New Jersey service area to prepare the
electric grid for the hot summer months and potential severe
weather and hurricanes that come with the season.
Doug Mokoid, FirstEnergy's
President, New Jersey: "Our
maintenance and inspection programs are designed to ensure that we
can provide the safe and reliable electric service our customers
need to keep cool and comfortable during the hot, stormy summer
months, and to meet the demands on our system that accompany the
influx of seasonal tourism in our service territory."
In addition to regular ground-based visual inspections,
helicopter patrols surveyed more than 700 miles of high-voltage
transmission lines this spring. The inspections are designed to
look for damaged wire, broken crossarms and other equipment
problems not visible from the ground. Any potential reliability
issues identified during the inspections are addressed as quickly
as possible.
JCP&L also captured infrared images of electrical equipment
using thermovision cameras. These high-tech inspections allow the
company to detect potential problems within substations and on
power lines that cannot be observed during regular visual
inspections. The infrared technology shows heat on a color scale,
with brighter colors or "hot spots" indicating potential equipment
issues. Utility workers complete more detailed inspections and make
repairs in these areas to prevent potential power outages in the
future.
JCP&L crews are also prepared to respond in the event severe
weather or hurricanes impact the area this summer. The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting an 85%
chance of an above-normal hurricane season, with 17 to 25 named
storms and eight to 13 hurricanes, including four to seven major
hurricanes (category 3 or higher with winds above 111 mph).
Critical equipment, such as mobile substations, has been
strategically staged closer to Jersey Shore and barrier island
communities. This important step allows crews to respond to the
higher demand for electricity due to tourism and helps restore
power faster should outages occur following a major weather event.
These areas typically absorb much of a hurricane or tropical
storm's force as it makes landfall.
In northern New Jersey, flood
walls have been tested at substations that are prone to impacts
from overflowing rivers and streams during tropical rains.
WATCH: Automated flood walls help reduce JCP&L
outages
With the summer storm season also comes higher-than-usual
temperatures and rising energy costs. Customers can take steps
to manage their electric bill while beating the heat by using
electricity wisely following these tips:
- Use fans, as moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater
comfort on hot days. However, remember to turn fans off when you
leave the area – fans cool people, not rooms.
- During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing
the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior
temperatures.
- Use a programmable or smart thermostat to keep temperatures
higher when no one is home and to reduce the temperature before
arrival back home.
- Seal any leaks with caulk or weather stripping to prevent hot
air from sneaking into your home.
- Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters
waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than
necessary.
- Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours
of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air
conditioner must do.
- Payment arrangements and assistance programs are available for
customers who need help with their electric bills. For more
information, visit firstenergycorp.com/billassist.
JCP&L serves 1.1 million customers in the counties of
Burlington, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union
and Warren. Follow JCP&L on X,
formerly known as Twitter, @JCP_L, on Facebook at
facebook.com/JCPandL or online at jcp-l.com.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form
one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems,
serving customers in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West
Virginia, Maryland and
New York. The company's
transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of
transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic
regions. Follow FirstEnergy on X @FirstEnergyCorp or online at
firstenergycorp.com.
Editor's Note: Photos of workers conducting
thermovision inspections to enhance service reliability for
FirstEnergy customers are available for download on Flickr. A video
of utility personnel conducting a thermovision inspection and
explaining the work can be found on the company's YouTube
channel.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.