TOMS RIVER, NJ – Power problems have become a persistent issue in Toms River, with a series of long-term power outages plaguing the township over the past two weeks. Weather events and traffic crashes have been cited as the primary causes, leading to growing concerns from local officials.
Most recently, a power outage near the Tunney Bridge resulted in multiple traffic signals going dark, leading to increased traffic woes.
The Toms River Police Department urged residents to be patient while Jersey Central Power & Light Company (JCP&L) worked to resolve the issue, and expressed gratitude to the linemen who work to respond to these outages.
The reason for the current outage was not revealed. Power was reported out at around 6 am Monday morning.
UPDATE: The outage is no longer reported on the JCP&L Outage Map.
Commissioner Joe Vicari has expressed serious concerns about these repeated outages and has highlighted broader issues with the electrical grid in Toms River. In a letter to Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Vicari emphasized the challenges faced by Ocean County, particularly given its status as a leading tourism destination and home to the largest senior population in the state.
Vicari’s letter outlined the growing reliance on electricity for daily life and the increase in severe storms, questioning whether the existing electric power sources would be sufficient to keep residents and visitors safe.
Ocean County relies on Jersey Central Power & Light Company and Atlantic City Electric for its electric power needs. Vicari emphasized the need for these companies to update policies and enhance the power grid’s reliability. He stressed the importance of designing a sustainable infrastructure with strong resiliency to minimize disruptions for residents and visitors.
Given the region’s considerable senior population, many of whom are 85-years-old and older, Vicari highlighted the critical need to upgrade the power grid to meet their specific needs, especially when it comes to powering devices essential to their health and well-being.
“We need to do all we can to avoid brownouts and power outages,” Vicari said in the press release.
These recent power issues in Toms River underline the complexities and challenges of maintaining a reliable electrical grid in the face of growing demands and changing weather patterns. It also underscores the vital role that energy providers and local authorities must play in ensuring the safety and comfort of their residents.