JCP&L Complaint to be Filed Soon, Mayor Says

The town’s complaint against Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) will be filed with the state Board of Public Utilities within a few days.

Mayor Chris Vergano has spearheaded an effort to have the BPU revoke the utility company’s license to sell power to Wayne residents since Tropical Storm Sandy.

“This is going to be a long journey for us,” Vergano said a council meeting a few days ago.

JCP&L provides service to only a few thousand residents, mostly on and near Black Oak Ridge Road. PSE&G provides power to the rest of the town.

Thousands of residents were without power for days after Sandy made landfall in November. Some were without heat or hot water for nearly two weeks.

Officials created an online petition for residents to sign in support of their effort; 1,800 people signed it. Vergano said officials would take that petition and possibly other complaints submitted through e-mails, and add them to the complaint.

Councilman Franco Mazzei is heading a committee that is looking at telecommunications and power systems in Wayne. The committee will make it a priority to understand the goals and objectives of the utility companies.

Officials have previously said that if JCP&L can’t, or won’t, leave town, the utility company should at least improve its aging equipment and infrastructure.

“We’ll be asking for their participation and input into our meetings,” Mazzei said.

Regarding JCP&L, Mazzei said, “To the extent tat they wish not to maintain infrastructure and have a commitment to provide adequate service to Wayne, that’s a decision they must really look at.”

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