Jersey Central Power & Light vegetation management contractors are nearing completion of the company's 2013 program to trim 3,600 circuit miles across its 13-county service area. To date, crews have trimmed more than 3,200 miles throughout JCP&L's northern and central New Jersey service areas. The work is done each year to help maintain proper clearances around electrical equipment and help protect against possible tree-related storm damage.
"Our forestry experts have worked diligently throughout all 13 counties we serve to properly trim trees, protect valuable infrastructure and help prevent tree-related interruptions of service," said Anthony Hurley, JCP&L vice president of Operations. "These vegetation management efforts work hand in hand with the infrastructure enhancements we perform on our system each year to help deliver safe and reliable service to JCP&L customers."
JCP&L vegetation management work is being completed in the following counties and municipalities this month and next.
- Essex County – Short Hills section of Millburn Township
- Hunterdon County – Lambertville
- Mercer County – Hopewell Township, Pennington and Titusville section of Hopewell Township
- Monmouth County – Keansburg
- Morris County – Dover, New Foundland and Oak Ridge sections of Jefferson Township, Gillette and Stirling sections of Long Hill Township, Parsippany and Whippany section of East Hanover Township
- Ocean County – Beachwood, Bayville section of Berkeley Township, Forked River section of Lacey Township, Ocean Gate and Pine Beach
- Passaic County – Pompton Lakes and Oak Ridge section of West Milford
- Sussex County – Franklin, Hamburg and Stockholm section of Hardyston Township
- Union County – Springfield Township and Summit
- Warren County – Philipsburg
All vegetation management work is conducted by JCP&L's certified forestry contractors, including: Aspen Tree Expert Company; Asplundh Tree Expert Company; The Davey Tree Expert Company; Lewis Tree Service Inc.; and Nelson Tree Service Inc.
To help maintain safe and reliable electric service, JCP&L regularly trims or removes trees and conducts vegetation management work along its electric distribution lines on a four year cycle. The company's certified forestry experts inspect vegetation near power lines to ensure trees are pruned in a manner that preserves the health of the tree, while also maintaining safety near electric facilities. Trees that do or may grow to present a danger or are diseased are removed.
As part of the process, JCP&L works with municipalities to inform them of vegetation management schedules. In addition, customers living in areas along company rights-of-way also are notified prior to work being done.
