N.J. utilities face post-Irene scrutiny
A state regulatory agency will hold hearings on their performance after the storm.
TRENTON - The state Board of Public Utilities will hold hearings on the performance of New Jersey electric companies after Hurricane Irene, Gov. Christie said Friday.
Christie expressed particular concern about Jersey Central Power & Light, which he said restored service more slowly than other utilities in the state.
JCP&L spokesman Ron Morano said the company remained focused on restoring service and would cooperate with a review of its performance at the appropriate time.
By 6 p.m. Friday, fewer than 25,000 JCP&L homes and businesses remained without power.
The state's three major utility companies have said that about 1.5 million customers lost power during the storm or the flooding that followed.
Midday on Friday, Atlantic City Electric said service had been restored to all customers whose power was known to have been interrupted as a result of Hurricane Irene and who could safely accept electric service. PSE&G reported fewer than 2,500 customers still without service because of the storm.
The utilities had said that nearly all service would be restored by the end of the day Friday.