How Was Your Electric Service During Hurricane Sandy? NJBPU Wants to Know

Much of New Jersey was spared the Hurricane Sandy storm surge that destroyed so much of the shore areas. But for those who missed that part of the hurricane, the next worst thing that happened was the loss of electric power.

In some parts of the state, the power outages lasted for as long as two weeks. Now the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) wants to know what consumers think about how their local electric utilities handled the hurricane.

The BPU is seeking public input in a series of public forums throughout the state. Two hearings involving the performance of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) are scheduled. The first takes place on Monday, Dec. 10, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the William Annin School in Basking Ridge, and the second on Tuesday, Dec. 18, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Hopatcong Middle School.

Another hearing involving Rockland Electric Company is scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 12, in Ramsey.

These are just the beginnings of hearings that will held statewide, said BPU spokesman Earl Pierce.

"We're still deciding the schedule. There will be more set up throughout the state," Pierce said.

That will also include other power companies, such as PSEG, which handles the electric needs of most of Middlesex and much of Mercer counties.

Many PSEG customers experienced intermittant outages in the weeks following Hurricane Sandy. In Woodbridge and the surrounding area, that was because of the storm surge flooding of the Sewaren substation.

Pierce couldn't say if the hearings would be held in either Middlesex or Mercer counties.

"It's too early at this point. We'll know more later," he said.