JCP&L Holding Open Houses for Proposed Service Project

Residents from around the area are encouraged to attend one of two open houses being held this week by JCP&L as they look to improve their infrastructure over the next few years. 

Being called the Oceanview Reinforcement Project the plan would involve building a new transmission line from the Larrabee Substation in Howell to the Oceanview Substation in Neptune. It is part of the JCP&L Local Infrastructure and Transmission Enhancement Program, which is scheduled to be completed over several years at a cost of close to $200 million. 

The new line would be built in the same right-of-way the company currently uses that runs through Colts Neck, Farmingdale, Howell, Neptune, Tinton Falls and Wall. The preliminary cost is estimated to be around $44.5 million for this part of the project. 

As part of the new project new steel monopoles would be installed measuring between 70 and 90 feet. The current poles would be replaced with new monopoles for the existing two circuits and a second series of poles measuring between 100 and 120 feet tall would carry the new circuit according to information provided by the company. 

There are other routes being considered including one on a railroad right of way from the Larrabee Substation through Farmingdale. The second would run parallel with Route 195 and Route 18 to the Oceanview Substation. 

The company plans to file a formal application in December of this year with the goal of beginning construction in June 2016. The work could be completed by June of 2017.

The first open house will be held Monday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Howell Middle School North. The second will be held on Tuesday at the Sheraton-Eatontown from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. as well. More information can be found on the company's website and in the attached PDF.