Guidelines on Rebuilding in a Designated Flood Zone

We understand the hardships still being experienced by customers whose homes and belongings were damaged by Hurricane Sandy. JCP&L remains committed to working with federal, state and local agencies in a coordinated effort to rebuild and restore your service.

To make arrangements to have your electric service restored, removed or disconnected, please contact JCP&L at 800-662-3115 or complete our online form.

A JCP&L customer service representative will create and provide you with a notification number to easily identify and track your specific work request. This JCP&L notification number will assist with your municipal electrical inspection. JCP&L's normal fees for these services were reinstated on September 26, 2014.

When electrical construction is completed, please contact your municipality to schedule an electrical inspection. They will send a confirmation of inspection to JCP&L to reconnect your service. In cases where a new service line needs to be run to your home or other construction is required, please allow at least 7-10 working days.

All construction activities should be conducted safely and in compliance with all applicable permits, laws and regulations governing such activity at the site. These include, but are not limited to, the National Electrical Code (NEC), National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

JCP&L Guidance for New Construction or Rebuilding Homes above Historic Flood Levels

JCP&L customers should be aware of potential clearance and access issues to be addressed before beginning new construction or rebuilding efforts. This includes customers who may raise their homes above historic flood levels in compliance with new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards.

Higher elevations of new or rebuilt homes can impinge on the required safe clearance distance between electric power lines and buildings. This can create serious safety concerns, including the risk of injury or death, and property damage.

The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) has issued guidance in the form of an Elevation of Single Family Homes Notice and Guidance Document* to address these issues.

The DCA has alerted all Uniform Construction Code (UCC) users, including building owners, design professionals, and code enforcement officials of the need to obtain a letter from their local electric utility company stating that the local utility has informed the permit applicant of the required electrical safety area clearance distances so the elevation of the applicant’s home can be planned or constructed in a way that doesn’t impinge on these required clearances. The DCA guidance indicates that code enforcement officials will require a copy of the letter from permit applicants for all homes being elevated to meet the FEMA standards.

To initiate service, if necessary, before issuance of a building permit, JCP&L customers may use the online Start Service form or call 1-800-622-3115 to apply.

Upon notification of your construction project, a JCP&L representative may request the following:

A complete, clean and up-to-date site plan indicating the location of any JCP&L-owned electrical facilities on, or adjacent to, the property and in relationship to the proposed structure, including, if available, the proposal for the relocation of such facilities;
Updated architectural drawings, including the proposed elevations, doors, windows, decks, and awnings of the structure;
A copy of the current recorded deed for the site; and
Written notice of any deed, homeowner or township restrictions that might impact the design and placement of electrical facilities.

JCP&L requires a minimum of 30 days to review and process applications. The review process begins after all necessary documents have been received.

Please contact the local building department if you have any questions about applicable standards and requirements before commencing construction.

JCP&L Guidance for Electrical Meter Placement in a Designated Flood Zone

Whenever an electric meter is located higher than six feet above grade, whether to comply with FEMA flood level or other requirements, permanently fixed stairs and a landing must be provided. This helps to ensure that meter readers and other personnel are able to access and safely maintain JCP&L meters. The landing must provide an adequately sized work area that is a minimum of 42 inches wide by 48 inches deep centered on the meter.

In consultation with a JCP&L representative, the electric meter installer also may locate the meter where fixed stairs already exist, including stairs that lead to a landing on a porch or deck serving either a front or rear entrance of the residence.

If the meter is going to be installed on the side of the residence, or on a part of the building not currently served by stairs, then stairs and a landing that comply with the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) and meet the minimum work area size requirements as specified above, must be constructed and maintained. The stairs and landing, including the specified work area and any necessary railings, must be maintained in good, sound condition and may not be removed. Either removal or failure to properly maintain the stairs, landing and work area could result in electric service being discontinued.

As explained in the Guidance on Electrical Meter Placement in a Designated Flood Zone* issued by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), the construction of the stairs and landing are subject to the UCC and must comply with the International Residential Code (IRC) for detached one- and two-family dwellings and attached single family townhouses. Construction also must conform to the International Building Code (IBC).

The installation is subject to the UCC and must comply with applicable requirements of the National Electrical Code (NEC).

Please view the documents below for detailed drawings of meter installation requirements and meter landings:

Meter landing detail for overhead wires

Meter landing detail for underground wires

If you have questions regarding meter placement, please contact JCP&L at 1-800-662-3115.

All construction activities should be conducted safely and in compliance with all applicable permits, laws and regulations, including the NEC, National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA).

Please contact the local building department or the DCA regarding any questions about applicable standards and requirements.

* This is a link to a third-party website; FirstEnergy is not responsible for the content on the website.