Don't charge your ev or use ac during heat wave? County official deeply concerned
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Don’t Charge Your EV or Use AC During Heat Wave? County Official Deeply Concerned

by
August 10, 2023
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TOMS RIVER, NJ – During a recent heat wave, officials from the state of New Jersey recommended that residents lowered their air conditioner temps and to avoid charging their electronic vehicles during peak hours of usage.

That advice left a lot of people feeling unsettled about the state of the electrical grid and capacity in New Jersey. In additional multiple recent storms and traffic collisions have left residents in Ocean County without power, sometimes days.

Now, Ocean County Commissioner Joe Vicari has serious concerns about the state of the power grid in Ocean County.

Vicari, the Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners has raised concerns about the power grid’s resilience as the County’s population grows, particularly with a significant senior citizen demographic. In a letter to Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Vicari expressed worries regarding the power grid’s ability to handle increased reliance on electric energy.

With New Jersey’s plan to integrate electric power for various daily activities, including transportation and cooking, Ocean County faces challenges related to power grid stability.

The county, a prominent tourism destination, witnesses its population swelling to 1.3 million during the summer while also accommodating over 200,000 seniors, many of whom are aged 85 or older.

The combination of heightened electricity dependency and a rising frequency of severe storms raises concerns about the adequacy of electric power sources in ensuring safety for residents and visitors.

Jersey Central Power & Light Company and Atlantic City Electric serve Ocean County’s electricity needs.

Vicari emphasized the necessity for updated policies by these electric companies to bolster power grid reliability and establish a resilient infrastructure that minimizes service disruptions for residents and visitors. Preventing brownouts and power outages is of paramount importance, especially considering the health-related devices that seniors rely on.

Addressing the needs of the county’s nearly 700,000 year-round residents, Vicari stressed the immediate need for enhancing power grid reliability and resiliency. The growing demand for long-term power grid stability underscores the urgency of action.

The Ocean County Board of Commissioners is focusing on ensuring that the power grid can handle the region’s evolving energy needs and provide consistent service for residents, businesses, and critical facilities.

Phil Stilton
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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.

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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.

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