Current Dark Sections of Marlboro Powered by Out-of-Town Substations

Update: As of 5:38 p.m. on Tuesday, Sunrise Assisted Living is reported to be on line.

While it may not be a comfort to the remaining few, 90 percent of Marlboro Township now has electricity as of Tuesday afternoon.

According to grid information from JCP&L, the remaining sections are powered by out-of-town substations in Matawan, Colts Neck and Manalapan.

Mayor Jon Hornik said on Tuesday that he has been on the phone with the Governor's Office and JCP&L, but the only relevant information regarding power he is getting is from lineman on the streets of Marlboro.

"Anything JCP&L tells me I either already know, or it is inaccurate information," Hornik said. 

The highest concern is still the senior population in Marlboro. Wickatunk Village and the Sunrise Assisted Living is still without power, both are power by out-of-town substations.

Frustration levels rise in the township as many are seeing neighboring streets light up, while they remain in the dark.  

In Woodcliff, there is a small section still without power. That small section is the only one in the neighborhood powered by the Matawan substation.

But Hornik said when he spoke to Mark Jones, Vice President of External Affairs at JCP&L, that information was not readily available.

"They were better prepared than they were for Irene, but the flaws in their execution are still there," the mayor said. "We are now 8 days out, and going into another storm. It's not a lack of manpower, it's a lack of communication and organization. The workers on the ground are doing a great job."

Township officials in Marlboro do have information that 90 percent of the township is up and running, but outage information on the JCP&L website does not seem to be keeping up. 

While many substations have been fixed, township officials said sometimes a distribution or circuit problem comes into play, leaving specific streets or neighborhoods in the dark.

Crews were seen today on School Road East in Marlboro Township, and working nearby in Colts Neck on Heyers Mill Road and Cedar Drive.