JCP&L: Squirrel Contact Leads to Power Outage

A squirrel that came in contact with a powerline early Wednesday morning ultimately caused power to go out for about 500 JCP&L customers, including the Morris County Courthouse.

Ron Morano, a spokesman for JCP&L, said the squirrel had come in contact with a power line at around 6:30 a.m. in the vicinity of Phoenix Avenue and Miller Street,

About 500 customers in that area of town were affected, including the courthouse, which Morano said is served by three separate "power phases," causing a partial power outage. Morano said, however, that JCP&L de-energized all three phases of power to the courthouse in order to make the necessary repairs.

Morano said an "internal matter"

DailyRecord.com reported a backup battery caught fire during the outage, resulting in the smoke condition.

"Customers that are served with routine service, with equipment that has three phases to operate are required to have protective devices for that equipment," Morano said. "It's their equipment. If they receive three-phase service, they should have protective devices installed."

All customers affected by the power outage were restored by 11:20 a.m.