Politics & Government

JCP&L Feedback Wanted at Public Meeting Tuesday

BPU holds hearing from 4 to 7 p.m. at Hopatcong Middle School.

Nearly two months after Superstorm Sandy, residents will have the chance to tell state officials first-hand their concerns and suggestions for the storm response and what it was like to survive without power for days.

The Board of Public Utilities will hold a public hearing on Tuesday at Hopatcong Middle School from 4 to 7 p.m. to hear input from residents all over the region about what the experience in the aftermath of Sandy was like.

"We hope that residents are able to give us as much information as they have," said Greg Reinert, a spokesman for BPU. "What their experiences were, what did they experience as far as the outage, whether it was a line down or what information did they get regarding the outage, what information they weren't able to get about the outage."

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Reinert said all comments will be taken into consideration in trying to make the companies peform better.

JCP&L will also be at the meeting, where preisdent Don Lynch will give a presentation. BPU Robert Hanna is also expected to speak at the beginning before the public comment.

Find out what's happening in Hopatcong-Spartawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Reinert said everyone who signed up to make a comment will get the chance to speak.

"We're really looking to take testimony on everything that the public experienced, saw, was told, so we have a complete picture," he said.

Hopatcong Mayor Sylvia Petillo said the meeting is important for residents because it is the first time since the storm they can tell state officials about what it was like to be in one of the storm's hardest hit areas.

"This gives residents the opportunity to vent, and to let them know how difficult it was," she said. "I think the BPU needs to hear the complaints about JCP&L, they need to hear it from the people."

This is the third meeting BPU has set up in the state. The where the main discussion from the public consisted of poor communication, infrastructure and equipment problems after the storm.

Those who cannot make it to the meeting can submit written comments via email to: board.secretary@bpu.state.nj.us  or by mail to: Kristi Izzo, Secretary of the Board, Board of Public Utilities, 44 South Clinton Ave., 9th Floor, P.O. Box 350, Trenton, NJ 08625-0350.

The written comments should reference Docket Number EO12111050 in the “subject” area of emails, or in  the heading of a letter.

These comments will be accepted until Jan. 31.


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