When a powerful storm struck Central New Jersey just before Independence Day, it brought more than just rain and wind: it brought down trees, snapped utility poles and knocked out power to over 100,000 customers across Union, Middlesex and Somerset counties.
But while the storm was fierce, the response was even stronger.
A storm like no other
On July 3, straight-line winds and downbursts—at speeds from 65 to 80 mph—swept through multiple communities in the middle part of the state. Though not officially a hurricane, these were hurricane-force winds that uprooted massive trees, damaged homes and severely impacted our power infrastructure.
Hard-hit towns like Fanwood, Scotch Plains, Dunellen and especially Plainfield, faced some of the most extensive destruction.
Our thoughts are with the families and friends who lost loved ones during this devastating storm.
A call to action
Our employees sprang into action immediately, working around the clock through the July 4th holiday weekend to restore service safely and as quickly as possible for our customers. Over the weekend, they:
- Repaired or replaced over 150 utility poles
- Installed more than 80 new transformers
- Replaced approximately 76,000 feet of wire
- Cleared over 500 tree hazards from lines and equipment
These weren’t ordinary jobs. The combination of strong straight-line winds and large toppled hundreds of trees, particularly in Plainfield, complicated the cleanup and restoration efforts, requiring more crews and time to complete each job. The conditions meant that more poles were impacted, more trees were tangled in wires and more electrical equipment was damaged.
For example, five crews worked to repair eight broken poles and six transformers restoring 43 customers, demonstrating that it can take just as much time and work to restore a few customers as it does to restore hundreds.
The power of teamwork
We knew we couldn’t do this alone. To get the work done, we called for extra crews, including a contingent of mutual aid crews from other utilities from other states. Among those providing mutual aid support were Consolidated Edison, Orange and Rockland Utilities and PSEG-Long Island.
Their support was critical in speeding up the recovery process, and we’re incredibly grateful to them.
We’re also proud of all our PSE&G employees who gave up holiday time with family and friends to support the operations in the field, doing whatever it took to restore power.
To our customers: Thank you
Many customers had their power restored within the first 24 hours. For those who waited longer, we know how frustrating and difficult that can be. We appreciate your patience, kind words and the way so many of you supported our crews with encouragement, posting positive comments on social media or just sharing a heartfelt “thank you.”
Partners in the storm
Local officials played a vital role in the response. Mayors and other government officials across the region worked closely with us, helping communicate with residents and coordinate resources during critical restoration efforts.
Throughout the weekend, we regularly communicated with local mayors and other government officials in Union, Middlesex and Somerset Counties—including on-the-ground communicating and liaising—regarding the storm damage impacts, restoration times and unique customer and neighborhood issues. Their collaboration helped us deliver faster updates, solve challenges on the ground and make sure no neighborhood was overlooked.
Moving forward, together
Storms test the strength of our infrastructure, but they also reveal the strength of our communities. We’re proud of how our teams, our partners and most of all, our customers, came together during this challenging time.
Thank you for trusting us. We’re committed to continuing to serve you prioritizing safety, customer care and reliability—no matter what the forecast holds.
