Chester Continues To Work With JCP&L On Electrical Infrastructure

CHESTER, NJ — Chester officials have given an update on the ongoing electrical infrastructure plans happening throughout the township.

The infrastructure upgrades come after the start of the NJ Reliability Improvement Project, a $95 million endeavor by First Energy Corp. and Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L).

Chester Township is among three Morris County towns the plan is expected to affect. With Roxbury and Washington townships also getting new service, a total of 2,100 JCP&L customers are expected to benefit from this project.

Upgrades include replacing power lines/poles, upgrading fuses, trimming tree/vegetation hazards, and more, according to First Energy Corp.

JCP&L declared the Chester Township area one of 18 “high-priority circuits” in the state, specifically the Pleasant Hill Substation.

Since October 2024, residents may have seen new electric poles popping up around the neighborhood, and should expect to see some more.

According to the township, the upgrades are expected to “dramatically increase the reliability of our electrical grid for residents.”

“JCP&L continues to work at an accelerated pace on the Pleasant Hill side of town,” Mayor Tim Drag said in a social media post. “Residents may have noticed new utility poles going up—part of an ongoing project to build a more modern and resilient electrical system.”

Drag added that the project is expected to continue throughout the year and will result in “long-term benefits to Chester Township.”

Last summer, more than 1,000 JCP&L customers in the Mendham/Chester area lost power following a June storm. Officials are expecting the work being done to decrease that number and increase the speed at which power is restored.

The current work is the result of Phase One of the project, which is expected to be completed in October. Phase two, which involves "longer-duration projects," is scheduled to be completed by 2028, according to First Energy Corp.

The upgrades come while state-wide electric bill hikes are put onto JCP&L customers, some by over 20 percent.