| Sandy-downed power line in Bernardsville, NJ – nj.com photo |
Eight months before Hurricane Sandy left more than 1 million customers of Jersey Central Power & Light without power, a top executive of its parent company told analysts during an earnings call, “there are literally events that I don’t think we should plan for.’’
NJ Spotlight reports today that:
The pronouncement by Chuck Jones, president of FirstEnergy Utilities, is explosive because JCP&L is under increasing fire from local officials and state regulators over its response to the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Sandy. More than one hundred thousand of its customers lost power twice during the more than 11 days it took the utility to restore electricity.
The comments also might prove troublesome to the state’s second-largest utility because it already is facing a proceeding spurred by the New Jersey Division of Rate Counsel over allegations that JCP&L was earning above the amount granted by state regulators, bringing in more than $90 million in profits.
Todd Schneider, a spokesman for FirstEnergy, the parent company of JCP&L, disputed any assertion that the company had not planned for Hurricane Sandy, a storm that utility officials noted was twice as big as Hurricane Katrina, which devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast.
“We did more for this storm than we did ever before planning for such an event,’’ Schneider said. “We threw every possible resource at Hurricane Sandy.’’
Read the full story here.
Related:
JCP&L blasted by crowd in Bernards Township
What’s your view? Does a utility company have a responsibility to invest for 100-year storms? Use the comment box below to respond. If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comment’ line.
Our most recent posts:
Yo, DEP, How much wood could a wood-chipper stack?
Newspaper offers Superstorm Sandy photos in new book
Prescribed burning bill clears NJ Assembly committee
Rutgers gets a not so five-and-ten-cent climate grant
‘Radio Times’ examines NJ chemical train derailment
Newspaper offers Superstorm Sandy photos in new book
Prescribed burning bill clears NJ Assembly committee
Rutgers gets a not so five-and-ten-cent climate grant
‘Radio Times’ examines NJ chemical train derailment
***********************************************************************************************************
For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
***********************************************************************************************************
For thorough coverage of environmental news, issues, legislation and regulation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, try a FREE subscription to EnviroPolitics, our daily newsletter that also tracks environment/energy bills–from introduction to enactment
***********************************************************************************************************
