08/21/2026
Thank you Mayor Nunziato for addressing the power outages.
An Update From Mayor Nunziato About Recent Power Outages:
As many of you know, this summer, portions of Rutherford have experienced a series of power outages. Residents’ frustrations have not gone unnoticed. Last night I reached out to PSE&G leadership to seek a clear and concise explanation as to why this has been happening.
Lauren Samulka, Regional Public Affairs Manager and Nelson Dias, Senior Director Distribution Operations from PSE&G immediately responded and agreed to meet today with RPD Chief Farrell and myself to manage expectations and provide an update that I could share with the community. They have assured us that after an extensive investigation, this summer’s outages are the result of a section of cable on Chestnut Street that has been failing and needs to be replaced.
The repairs include installing 8 new poles and open wire cable along Chestnut Street. One tree near Chestnut and Fairview will need to be trimmed. PSE&G has already begun making system repairs.
Overall, this replacement will take 2-3 weeks, during which further outages are not expected. Should street closures be necessary, RPD will be present. During the 2-3 week replacement phase, the system remains vulnerable, particularly during heavy rains. Additionally, PSE&G has committed to maintaining crews in the area for quicker response time and they have plans in place to repair and resolve issues in the most efficient manner possible. Once repairs are complete, there will be a scheduled outage period, likely lasting 2-4 hours, to complete the switch over. Those affected will be given one day’s notice of the scheduled outage.
I can assure you that I will stay on top of this matter and not leave our residents in the dark. At the conclusion of this afternoon’s meeting, I feel confident that PSE&G is committed to the quality of service they provide our residents. I understand that patience may be wearing thin, but we will continue to provide updates as they’re available.
Contact PSE&G with any issues at (800) 436-7734 or TEXT OUT to 4PSEG (47734)
Rutherford Police Department
PSEG
