By Matthew Sockol
Staff Writer
MILLSTONE – A power distribution company has completed its work on a 115-kilovolt transmission line on Route 33 in Millstone Township.
On July 6, Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) Area Manager Gerald Ricciardi appeared before the Township Committee to announce the completion of his company’s role in the creation of the transmission line. The infrastructure is classified as high voltage and the 115 kV lines are used to transmit electricity to a large service area.
JCP&L, which is owned by FirstEnergy, provides electricity to counties in northern and central New Jersey. Ricciardi manages areas in Mercer, Middlesex and Monmouth counties, which includes Millstone Township.
The power line extends from what JCP&L calls the Englishtown substation in Manalapan to its Wyckoff substation in Hightstown, crossing through Millstone Township.
Ricciardi appeared before the committee in December to discuss the power line.
The project to develop the 115 kV transmission line began about three years ago, but was delayed because JCP&L had to acquire easements from Route 33 property owners. Ricciardi said trees in the area where the transmission line were placed had to be cleared to prevent them from interfering with the line and causing power outages.
Construction of the transmission line began in January after JCP&L obtained the proper tree clearances on Route 33.
In December, Ricciardi said the 115 kV transmission line was necessary due to an increase in electricity consumption. He told municipal officials that electricity usage has essentially doubled in 40 years.
According to a chart Ricciardi shared with the committee, the electricity consumption rate is expected to grow 22 percent by 2040.
The new transmission line, according to Ricciardi, will increase reliability for the area. He said it will feed Millstone’s Applegarth substation, the largest substation in the township, which he estimated provides power to 40 percent of the municipality’s residents.
Township Committee members voiced their support of the infrastructure during the July 6 meeting.
“When I see (reports of) power outages, I very rarely see Millstone coming across the computer screen,” Mayor Bob Kinsey said. “Now that we have this power line energized, maybe I’ll never see one again. Hopefully, it’s everything JCP&L said it would be and hopes it will be. We appreciate JCP&L’s commitment to the residents of Millstone.”
Work on the transmission line is still being performed by Verizon, which is in the process of transferring its equipment to the line.
