Murphy calls JCP&L storm response “unacceptable”

Gov. Phil Murphy beat up on JCP&L today for leaving more than 50,000 New Jerseyans without power after last Wednesday’s storm – an outage that could last into Monday.

“These efforts, which should have been taken days ago, are small steps in the right direction,” Murphy said. “But we have a long way to go. People are mad as heck and so am I.”

Murphy called the response “embarrassing and unacceptable” and promises to use “all the authority at my disposal to get power restored.”

The governor didn’t indicate what that means, although he has ordered the state Board of Public Utilities to launch an investigation.  His office says he has communicated his frustration directly to JCP&L officials.