Community Corner

Residents Send Emails to Request JCP&L Meeting

They want answers about the lack of response to widespread power outages.

With 600 Facebook group members, 150 signers on the Bridgewater petition and 250 signatures on the state-wide one, residents are taking one more step to get answers from JCP&L about the response during Hurricane Sandy.

Bridgewater resident Neha Pallod Limaye started the petition in Bridgewater to get JCP&L out of the town, and also began a Facebook group to join together people unhappy with the power company's response.

Now, Limaye has taken the next step by sending out an email to request a meeting to get answers on management and future plans from the head of the power company and other officials.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Limaye said she recently distributed an email to all members of the Facebook group, encouraging them to contact Gov. Chris Christie, JCP&L President Don Lynch and BPU President Bob Hanna. In the email, they are requesting a meeting with these officials on Dec. 7 to get answers about the JCP&L response.

With the email ready, Limaye is encouraging anyone to send it, with the hope that it will be read, and the meeting will be set for Dec. 7, also open to the public.

Find out what's happening in Bridgewaterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Below is the text of the email itself:

Governor Christie, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Hanna,

Superstorm Sandy left behind a magnitude of devastation never seen before in NJ. Our residents appreciate all of your well intentioned efforts and we cannot thank enough the out of state crews that contributed to our restoration. 

Although the level of devastation along the Jersey Shore was unprecedented we all had warning of the anticipated state wide power outages and storm surges from the Weather Channel highlighting the trifecta of two storms coming together during a full moon. They categorized it as the “Storm of the Century”. All residents and corporations (large & small) in the storms path took heed and prepared for the worst. We trusted our power companies to do the same. However, based on the facts we’ve learned, JCP&L appeared failed to do so. 

The recent events after Sandy once again point to JCP&L’s failed attempt to efficiently deploy and manage outside crews, provide them the correct work orders and to equip them with the appropriate inventory to restore the customers they were sent here to help. JCP&L also failed to communicate with its customers on daily and accurate restoration plans, to log & prioritize outages reported and to provide the much needed customer service to us—their paying customers!

We applaud the linemen and crew members that worked long shifts through cold days and nights to help us, but we are disappointed in the First Energy Executives for their apparent lack of management. We are not only looking for answers, we intend to propose practical solutions in the atmosphere of “Lessons Learned” and future “Storm Preparedness”—beginning with an assessment of existing equipment, which in some cases appears to be age old. 

In closing, the customers of NJ have witnessed JCP&L fail three times over the past 16 months—during Irene, the snowstorm of 2011 and now Hurricane Sandy. We stayed silent last two times, but now we have to get involved. First Energy/JCP&L needs to accept responsibility for their lack of storm prepardness and we are expecting them to provide their storm restoration plans and accept constructive criticisms and proposals for improvement. Therefore, we would like to hold a town hall meeting with you—Gov. Christie, Mr. Lynch and Mr. Hanna at 9:00 AM on Friday, Dec 7, 2012 at the JCP&L headquarters in Morristown. We wish to structure this as an interactive Q & A session and expect your attendance. If you will be unable to attend, please inform us of an alternate date and time to hold this meeting. Otherwise, our only other choice will be at the JCPL Rate Hearing.

We look forward to hearing from you with a confirmation for Dec 7th or alternative opportunity to discuss. You can post your confirmation or alternate date proposal on our group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/214956725303852/

Thank you. 

NJ Residents


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