Byram seeks role in state JCP&L reliability case, pushes for improvements to electric service
BYRAM TOWNSHIP, N.J. (Sussex County) — Byram Township is seeking to intervene in a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities proceeding involving Jersey Central Power & Light as township officials push for improvements to electric reliability following repeated outages.
Mayor Alex Rubenstein said in a Facebook post that the township is pursuing intervention to gain a formal role in the proceeding, obtain detailed reliability data and advocate for improvements to the electric system serving Byram.
“For too long, our residents have dealt with frequent power outages, many caused by trees and vegetation coming into contact with JCP&L’s system,” Rubenstein wrote.
The BPU proceeding stems from JCP&L’s failure to meet minimum reliability standards in 2022, 2023 and 2024. The BPU ordered the matter to a hearing in July and established an Aug. 12 deadline for motions to intervene or participate.
Byram filed its motion Aug. 11, requesting full intervenor status or, alternatively, participant status.
If granted full intervention, the township could receive filings and evidence, seek relevant information from JCP&L through discovery, submit evidence about outages affecting Byram, question the utility’s explanations and proposed solutions, and participate in discussions involving potential corrective measures.
“Byram is pushing for better electric reliability,” Rubenstein wrote. “The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities is now conducting a formal proceeding into JCP&L’s reliability performance. Byram Township is pursuing intervention in that proceeding so we can have a seat at the table, obtain the underlying reliability data, and advocate directly for our residents.”
Township officials pointed to a July 3 wind and lightning storm as a recent example of Byram’s reliability concerns. More than 1,400 of the township’s approximately 3,200 electric meters lost power, according to the township’s filing.
The filing states that multiple tree contacts affected customers and that a fallen tree near South Shore Road blocked the only vehicle access for approximately 40 homes.
Byram said outages affect more than residential customers, citing impacts on the Municipal Building, police, fire and emergency medical services, public works facilities, sewer operations, road access and other essential services.
“Our goal is not to get the Township a check or simply see JCP&L fined. Our goal is to get the power system serving Byram fixed,” Rubenstein wrote.
The township wants to examine several potential factors contributing to outages, including vegetation management, the condition of electrical infrastructure, redundancy and alternate feeds, staffing levels and outage restoration practices.
“That means determining why our outages happen so frequently and pushing for meaningful improvements in vegetation management, infrastructure, redundancy, staffing, and outage response,” Rubenstein wrote.
According to Rubenstein’s Aug. 2 memorandum to the Township Council, BPU staff determined JCP&L’s Northern Region, which includes Byram, also failed an applicable reliability standard in 2025 and recommended a penalty of approximately $44.1 million. The memorandum states JCP&L disputes the proposed penalty and argues that factors including weather, terrain and vegetation should mitigate its responsibility.
Byram’s motion states that its participation could provide the BPU with location-specific information about outages, emergency access, public safety consequences and restoration performance that is not reflected in regional reliability statistics alone.
“The July 3 storm—when more than 1,400 Byram customers lost power—was another reminder that this is more than an inconvenience. Reliable electricity affects our homes, businesses, emergency services, road access, and public safety,” Rubenstein wrote.
“We intend to use this process to fight for measurable improvements in the reliability of the electric service our residents pay for and deserve.”
