By Brian LaMuraglia
Jersey Central Power and Light crews showcased their pole climbing skills, along with gear that included an aerial truck with a boom and bucket that extended nearly 200 feet, for New Jersey Careers in Utilities Week.
“I’m really proud of the men and women of Jersey Central Power and Light. They perform in all the different weathers we get. It’s a 24/7 job. They really have a tremendous dedication to keeping the lights on,” JCP&L President Jim Fakult said at Thursday’s demo in Morris Townsip.
Fakult said JCP&L employees went to Florida to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. The utility has a mutual aid agreement with Florida Power and Light. If disaster strikes the Sunshine State, crew from the Garden State head south to lend a hand.
James Jinmauro, 54, from eastern Pennsylvania has answered the call twice to help FP&L. He just got back from a tour to fix power lines downed by Matthew.
Jinmaruro said he stayed at the Daytona Racetrack staging area with a fleet of 1200 trucks. Most of the work force was going to backyards that trucks could not access.
“They would give us our work for the day and we would go out and do our thing,” said Jinmauro. “Most of the stuff for us is backyard. We physically climbed polls putting wires up and things like that. It’s always a good experience to go down there and help people out.”
