Few Brick Customers Still Without Electricity As Controversy Brews Over Restoration

Fewer than 1,000 Brick customers of Jersey Central Power & Light remained without power early Sunday morning, though those who were still in the dark became frustrated with the utility company.

The mounting frustration led township officials to issue a plea to the company on its Facebook page Saturday night, asking them to restore power in some sections of town.

The Shore Acres neighborhood, badly affected by Hurricane Sandy, has remained without power since the storm struck.

Residents in that neighborhood were among the 865 customers - out of about 35,000 total in town - to be out of power.

"JCP&L has been in contact with the [township] and has told Mayor Acropolis they are refusing to turn power on is areas that were most heavily impacted by Sandy," the post said.

Residents of the neighborhood have reported to Brick Patch that they were told by JCP&L that township inspectors must first approve power restoration, though the township has maintained that is not true, and has placed responsibility on JCP&L to turn the power back on.

According to the post Saturday night, the township contacted Gov. Chris Christie's office over the situation, and that office has handed the matter over the Board of Public Utilities, which regulates power companies.

A call to JCP&L Saturday night was not immediately returned.