16,000 remain without power across new jersey after storms down trees, lines overnight

16,000 remain without power across New Jersey after storms down trees, lines overnight

Posted by
1 min read
March 17, 2026

Heavy rain and strong winds leave widespread outages and ongoing repairs across multiple utility regions.

Newark, NJ – More than 11,000 customers across New Jersey remained without power Tuesday morning after overnight storms brought heavy rain and strong winds that knocked down trees and power lines statewide. Utility companies reported scattered outages continuing into the morning as crews worked to restore service.


Key Points

  • Over 11,600 JCP&L customers without power after overnight storm
  • PSE&G reports more than 9,400 affected customers across 534 outages
  • Downed trees and power lines cited as primary cause of disruptions

JCP&L, which services large portions of northern and central New Jersey, reported 11,633 customers without electricity following the storm. The outages were described as sporadic but widespread, impacting multiple municipalities where falling trees damaged infrastructure.

PSE&G reported 534 active outages affecting 9,432 customers, primarily in its northern and central service areas. Atlantic City Electric, referred to in reports as Atlantic Power, reported 210 outages affecting 2,564 customers.

Crews respond to widespread damage

Utility crews from all three providers have been deployed across the state to address downed lines, broken poles, and tree debris. Officials said hazardous conditions overnight contributed to delays in some response efforts, though restoration work continued through the early morning hours.

The outages come as saturated ground and strong wind gusts increased the likelihood of trees falling onto power lines, a common issue during severe weather events in the region.

Restoration efforts ongoing statewide

No estimated time of full restoration has been announced, though utilities indicated that service will be restored in phases as damage assessments are completed. Residents are urged to report outages directly to their service provider and to stay clear of downed wires.

Additional updates are expected throughout the day as conditions stabilize and crews make progress.

Phil Stilton

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

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