FirstEnergy’s JCP&L $30M Upgrade Replaces 10 Miles of Wire to Serve 25,000
Jersey Central Power & Light is investing $30 million to replace 10 miles of 1970s-era wire and upgrade utility poles in northern Monmouth County, boosting capacity for about 25,000 homes and businesses across five townships with completion slated for spring. This project falls under FirstEnergy’s $28 billion Energize365 grid modernization program.
1. Project Details and Scope
Jersey Central Power & Light began construction in mid-2025 on a $30 million effort to modernize its northern Monmouth County corridor, replacing equipment installed in the 1970s. The work includes upgrading 10 miles of existing transmission lines with stronger wire, installing new wood, steel and wood-laminated poles, and adding a second set of lines for redundancy.
2. Reliability and Customer Impact
Upon spring completion, the enhancements will serve approximately 25,000 homes and businesses in Marlboro, Holmdel, Matawan, Aberdeen and Middletown townships. The new infrastructure is designed to reduce outage frequency and accelerate service restoration, while accommodating rising energy demand in the area.
3. Integration with Energize365 Program
This upgrade is part of FirstEnergy’s broader Energize365 initiative, a $28 billion investment from 2025 through 2029 aimed at building a smarter, more resilient grid. The program covers improvements across FirstEnergy’s service territory, supporting reliability for its 1.2 million New Jersey customers and beyond.