OCEAN COUNTY, NJ — With the summer heat pushing temperatures above 100 degrees, Ocean County Commissioners are voicing concerns over recurring power outages impacting residents, particularly the vulnerable senior community. Commissioner Frank Sadeghi highlighted an increase in complaints regarding blackouts and brownouts, noting that the assurances from Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) have not been met.
According to Commissioner Sadeghi, despite the utility’s promises, their performance has fallen short, especially during critical high-demand periods. Ocean County, which sees its population more than double during the summer months due to tourism, is home to over 200,000 seniors, many of whom rely on electrically powered medical devices such as oxygen tanks and dialysis machines.
Sadeghi has proposed a meeting with the new president of JCP&L to address these persistent issues and to discuss proactive measures to prevent future service disruptions. Commissioner Virginia E. Haines also suggested that discussions should extend to JCP&L’s parent company, First Energy, to explore long-term solutions to the county’s power reliability problems.
Ocean County leaders expressed their determination to ensure that the utility company fulfills its responsibilities to residents, emphasizing that the recurring power issues are unacceptable and must be resolved promptly.
