State Schedules Public Hearings on JCP&L's Irene Response

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has scheduled hearings to solicit public comments on how power companies prepared for and responded to Hurricane Irene.

JCP&L provides electricity to several towns, including Chatham Borough and Chatham Township. The Chathams suffered outages that affected over 3,500 residents and lasted, in some cases, for days.

The hearings are scheduled for Sept. 26 and 27.

Lee A. Solomon, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, wrote in a letter to local officials earlier this month that he was "appalled" by how towns described JCP&L's response. He said the state would "investigate and review thoroughly the conduct of all utilities and their parent companies during this crisis."

"If adequate preparations were not made in advance of the storm, or adequate resources not dedicated to deal with its aftermath, we will determine that and hold the utility(ies) accountable," he wrote.

Chatham Borough Mayor Nelson Vaughan said municipal officials worked through representatives of the Governor’s Office and state representatives to accelerate the power restoration process and to raise concerns about the apparent lack of information to residents. Chatham Borough Nelson Vaughan said it was Saturday, Sept. 4 before power was restored.

Vaughan also said that Robert Sweetin of the Chatham Borough Police Department worked with Rob Kennedy, a JCP&L employee and borough resident, in the days following Hurricane Irene.

The hearing locations are listed below, and additional hearings are being scheduled, the state said.

• Monday, Sept. 26, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan (use Reserved Meeting Room Parking off Alexander Drive)
• Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4 to 7 p.m., at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy, 500 West Hanover Ave., Morris Plains, NJ 07963

Written comments may also be submitted, prior to Oct. 28, via email to board.secretary@bpu.state.nj.us or in writing to:

Kristi Izzo, Secretary of the Board
Board of Public Utilities
PO Box 350
Trenton, NJ 08625-0350

Chatham Patch Editor Laura Silvius provided additional reporting for this article.