Residents raise concern about outages, surges
JCP&L disputes idea of widespread electrical problem
BY MICHAEL ACKER
Staff Writer

Reports of power problems in the area of Spring Hill and Cottrell roads in Old Bridge over the past year have led at least one resident to conclude that the problem could pose a fire hazard.

Saying they've experienced blown-out appliances and power outages, residents are calling on Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) to address the issue immediately.

JCP&L, however, disputes that there is a power voltage problem in the area, and said it has only received one complaint.

That complaint was from resident Guy Smoljan, a former licensed electrician, who told the Suburban that he took electrical readings in his home that were as high as 132 volts, whereas they should typically come in at 121.

The national code standard is 120, plus or minus 5 percent, meaning it should not exceed approximately 126 volts.

"On Thursday [Nov. 23], the unit kept tripping, and I couldn't figure it out," Smoljan said. "One hundred thirty-two volts is extremely high. All of the little transformers can catch on fire."

Smoljan, of Spring Hill Road, said he had no damage because he has surge protectors for his appliances. He said that JCP&L responded soon after he called and repaired the taps on the transformer poles, but did not address the issue of high voltage.

Smoljan said he left messages for township code enforcement and the electrical inspector, and was waiting to hear back from them.

"I don't want anybody to die," Smoljan said. "Last night, it was relatively high again. God forbid this smokes something up in the house while people are asleep."

Scott Krissow, who recently moved to Cottrell Road, said one of the appliances in his home blew out while he was mowing the lawn, causing smoke to fill the second floor.

"The washing machine blew up," Krissow said. "I was trying to figure it out, because it was a new machine and I did not know why it would do this. The electric in the house was just updated. The guy put in a new septic system."

The fire alarm in the house went off, Krissow said, and he unplugged the machine as soon as he got inside. He said he was able to handle the matter without calling the fire department.

"There is so much other stuff to do with a house to get it liveable, that I just went out and bought another machine that uses less electricity and less water," Krissow said.

Krissow said the power goes out in his home two to three times a month.

"The washing machine blew up the first week I was here. I used to live in Laurence Harbor and I never had power outages," Krissow said.

Krissow's neighbor, Gary Lavallo, said that over the past year he has lost two desktop computers and a television to power surges.

"We sometimes saw a light blip and the next day the computer was fried," Lavallo said. "It happened last time there was a power surge."

Lavallo said he is looking into purchasing surge protectors for all of the outlets in his house.

"We unplug everything when we are not home and we are starting to purchase very expensive surge protectors," Lavallo said. "We called JCP&L to file a claim and they tried to get me to put it through homeowner's insurance, but it is not their fault and it is not our fault."

Old Bridge Township Business Administrator Michael Jacobs said that the municipal center, at Cottrell Road and Route 516, lost power in recent weeks and outages have been a problem at the township facilities in the past.

"We experience similar problems in that area," Jacobs said. "We have problems with the voltage going up and down. It has caused us problems in the past. We have made a number of calls to the power company."

Jacobs said that JCP&L has told the township that the fluctuation variable for the voltage was at acceptable levels.

"[That] doesn't help the consumer. We have to use surge protectors," Jacobs said. "We spend a lot of money to protect our equipment. We would echo what you are hearing from those residents."

Jacobs advised residents that if they do not get a response to their problems from the power company, to call the state Board of Public Utilities.

"A lot of citizens don't know that there is a consumer advocate," Jacobs said.

Jerry Ricciardi, area manager of community and customer relations for JCP&L, told the Suburban that the last power outage the municipal center experienced was due to animal contact on a power line.

"It was a squirrel," Ricciardi said, adding that animal guards are at times eaten through.

"We do so many different things for protection to minimize [power outages]," Ricciardi said, "but animals, car accidents that hit poles, and the weather, we can't control that."

Power surges, he said, can be caused when lightning strikes a power line.

"When lightning strikes a line, you are going to get a power surge," Ricciardi said. "Lightning is a phenomenon of nature. One bolt of lightning can produce enough power for 100,000 homes."

Ricciardi said that Smoljan's concerns are under investigation.

"We responded when we went out there ... and we are still investigating," Ricciardi said. He added that voltage readings by JCP&L came out lower than Smoljan's, at slightly over 120.

Ricciardi urged residents to report problems with their power to JCP&L.

"It is the customer's responsibility to protect their own homes," Ricciardi said. "... Acts of nature we can't prevent.

The first indication of a high voltage blowout is when an increased number of light bulbs go out, Ricciardi said.

"JCP&L will only pay a claim if there is an act of negligence on the company," Ricciardi said. "A car pole accident is not our responsibility. When a storm comes through, there is no negligence on JCP&L."

The Browntown circuit, which includes Cottrell Road, had three outages this year, Ricciardi said.

"One was just a momentary blip," Ricciardi said, "[so] there was no time recorded for it. One was animal contact and one [that was] quantified as equipment failure looks like [it was due to] a fuse."

If someone is getting frequent power outages, they should contact the power company so it can check to ensure that the connection did not become loose. Ricciardi noted that 1,200 customers are on the circuit of one of the residents who raised concerns.

"If [this happened to] 1,200 people, we would sure have a lot more calls," Ricciardi said. "I think this is more individualized to this home."