Thousands Powerless As Triple-Digit Heat Taxes Utilities, Torches NJ For 2nd Day

Nearly 5,400 customers are without power across the Garden State Tuesday morning amidst New Jersey's first heat wave of the year.

Temperatures from Newark Airport, all the way to the Jersey Shore, set records on Monday, reaching 101 degrees in some areas. According to the Today Show, half of the United States was under extreme heat advisories as of Tuesday morning, causing power grids to be overworked and backup fans to be working overtime.

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In New Jersey, here is the latest outage breakdown across four of the state's major electric distribution companies:

Public Service Electric and Gas (PSE&G): 4,229

Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L): 996

Atlantic City Electric (ACE): 134

Rockland Electric Company (RECO): 8

Regional grid operator Pennsylvania Jersey Maryland Interconnection (PJM) says they anticipate Tuesday to be the most stress their grid has been under on any given day since 2013, according to the Today Show. The PJM runs the grid used by New Jersey and 12 other states, along with the District of Columbia.

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Power Outages Amid Extreme Heat Wave In Union County

Customers around New Jersey are amidst the deferred cost program this summer set forth by the state in order to mitigate the impact caused by the higher monthly rate hikes that went into effect on June 1.

Last week, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approved stipulations with the four electric distribution companies that include two interest-free $30 deferrals during July and August for all residential electric customers to be repaid over the subsequent six months. The companies are also suspending power shutoffs for the summer months and waiving any reconnection fees.

Last year’s annual New Jersey Basic Generation Service (BGS) auction, which determines what the providers pay for power from outside of New Jersey, can be blamed for the rise in demand and a stressed power grid, according to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Still, Governor Phil Murphy says there are multiple factors that are driving up the cost of energy in New Jersey, but that there is one major "culprit."

"That culprit is the Pennsylvania Jersey Maryland Interconnection. PJM has failed to plan for increased energy capacity and is trying to pass the buck onto the people of New Jersey." Customers of the four companies were all bracing for between a 17.2 and 20.2 percent increase in their monthly bills this year, bringing the total hike close to 30 percent higher per month for some customers as compared to 2023.

While the hit to the wallet might come at a later date, the state is underscoring the hit to your health that could lead to heat exhaustion or heat stroke if conditions are not taken seriously. Below, the New Jersey Department of Health offers tips to keep yourself and others safe:

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