Good Energy Headed Middletown's Way

Yes, there’s a surge of positive energy coming Middletown’s way in the wake of damage done by Hurricane Irene — full power restoration by the close of business on Friday.

Mayor Tony Fiore said he got the official word from JCP&L verbally and in writing, so he has every reason to believe it’s true. "That’s what I was promised as of 5:30 p.m. yesterday evening," he said this morning. "My contacts there gave me that final word in emails."

According to what Fiore said he was told, the electric company is now down to repairing two circuits that created the primary issues in stalling getting the power up and running.

"They wouldn’t say which circuits caused the problems, but the good news is that it’s being fixed," the mayor said. "After all is said and done, while I appreciate them prioritizing Middletown in the past couple of days and do understand that there were massive problems statewide, JCP&L owes the residents of Middletown an explanation of why it took so long. At this point, I don’t think their excuses hold a lot of weight."

Concerning residents in varying sections of the township complaining that their section of the township was not prioritized by the mayor in comparison to other sections, Fiore said, “I just wanted JCP&L to prioritize Middletown’s power restoration as a whole. That’s what I asked for. After that, I don’t choose the priorities (of where electric is restored first). JCP&L made those calls.”

As of now, Fiore said that power in most of the Bayshore, along Route 36, has been restored.

Click here for the latest update from the township and JCP&L.

The following is a message from the township concerning its fire official's advice on generator safety:

"The Middletown fire official asks that residents please refrain from placing power generators inside homes or residences.  Generators exhaust carbon monoxide which is a tasteless, odorless gas that is toxic and eventually fatal in levels that build up quickly when not vented properly.  Generators should be placed no closer than seventeen feet from any structure to avoid CO2 buildup."