Power remains out for more than 81k in N.J. after weekend disaster

A utility pole leans in Burlington County.Utility crews around New Jersey were making progress restoring electricity that was lost when powerful winds downed power lines.

More than 81,000 customers statewide are without service today. That’s down from a peak of 235,000.

The state’s largest utility, Public Service Electric & Gas, said about 57,000 customers from Bergen County are without power so far. There are also about 3,000 gas customers in Passaic and Somerset counties without service due to flooding.

Crews will continue to work throughout the day and night to restore service, PSE&G said. The utility is also getting help from utilities in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

PSE&G is estimating that the majority of customers, especially in Bergen, will have power restored by Wednesday, with the remainder on Thursday.

JCP&L crews are also working to restore service to about 27,000 customers. Most are located in Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. JCP&L hopes to finish repairs by late today or early Tuesday.

Atlantic Electric, which had about 42,000 customers without service at the height of the storm, has about 677 customers without power this afternoon, most of whom live in Atlantic County. The utility hopes to restore service today.

New York-based Orange and Rockland Utilities still has more than 6,500 customers without power in its Bergen County coverage area in northern New Jersey.