JCP&L Trimming Trees In Ocean County To Reduce Power Line Damage

OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — Crews from Jersey Central Power & Light are trimming trees in Ocean County as part of its efforts to reduce the potential for storm damage to wires, the company announced recently.

The company is spending $32.5 million plan and includes a $1.5 million increase in spending on tree trimming that JCP&L agreed to in a settlement with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

The settlement expands tree-trimming along 18 high-priority circuits in JCP&L's territory in northern and central New Jersey. The company will spend an additional $2.5 million each of the next five years.

The high-priority circuits were identified through historical outage data, the company said.

"This comprehensive vegetation management program is designed to help keep power flowing to customers by helping to reduce tree-related outages, such as those that can occur during severe weather," the company said.

While JCP&L’s tree-trimming program is designed to lower the risk of tree-related outages, work is limited to company rights-of-way, the company said.

In 2023, 86 percent of tree-related outages in JCP&L’s service territory were caused by trees located outside of these rights of way. People who believe a tree poses a risk to power lines can report it on JCP&L’s website.

"Falling trees and branches are the number one cause of power outages for our customers in New Jersey," said Jim Fakult, president of JCP&L. "Our year-round tree-trimming efforts are one of the most effective proactive steps we can take to help ensure safe, reliable and affordable electric service to our customers, especially as we move into the summer storm season."

The trimming is on a four-year cycle and includes inspecting vegetation near power lines to ensure trees are pruned in a manner that helps preserve the health of the tree while maintaining proper clearances around electrical equipment. It is performed by certified forestry contractors under the company’s direction.

JCP&L will trim trees in the following counties and municipalities Ocean County towns over the next two months:

• Beachwood
• Berkeley
• Brick
• Island Heights
• Jackson
• Lakehurst
• Lakewood
• Manchester
• Plumsted
• Point Pleasant Boro
• South Toms River
• Toms River.