Extensive Damage Slows Power Restoration in Scotch Plains; PSE&G Targets Tuesday for Full Service Resumption

Extensive damage caused by Friday's severe storm has made power restoration slow and complex, with PSE&G crews facing hundreds of individual repair jobs across a five-municipality region, according to Scotch Plains Mayor Josh Losardo.

Losardo said 39 PSE&G crews are currently working across Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Plainfield, Westfield, and Watchung, with additional crews expected to arrive to assist with restoration efforts.

"The scope of the damage is significant. The storm damaged more than 200 utility poles and brought down countless trees, particularly on the south side of Scotch Plains, where the concentration of fallen trees has made restoration especially challenging," Losardo wrote in a statement.

Union County Life is reporting on this regional power restoration update. According to Losardo, some repairs require as many as 10 crews working at a single location, while other repairs may restore power to only a handful of homes.

To illustrate the scale of damage, Losardo pointed to Arrowwood Drive, where crews are repairing eight broken utility poles and nine sections of downed primary power line that serve approximately 30 customers. The repair requires two full crews and is expected to take about 16 hours to complete. That project represents just one of approximately 400 separate restoration jobs PSE&G is managing across the affected communities.

PSE&G has committed to restoring power to all remaining customers by 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2026, although Losardo said many homes are expected to have service restored before then. He cautioned that additional storms or severe weather could affect that timeline.

Losardo noted that estimated restoration times have shifted as PSE&G discovers more extensive damage at each location than initially anticipated. "PSE&G's system generates an initial estimate based on the information available immediately after the storm, but as crews reach each location, they sometimes discover damage that is more extensive than originally anticipated," he said.

PSE&G has emphasized that it wants to hear from every customer without power. Individual outage reports help crews accurately identify affected homes and verify when service has been restored.

Losardo reminded residents to avoid downed power lines and to assume all wires are energized. Anyone encountering a downed wire or other immediate electrical hazard should call 911.

"We know this has been an exceptionally difficult stretch for our community. Thank you for your patience and understanding," Losardo wrote.

For more information about Scotch Plains and regional storm recovery, stay informed on Union County Life.

FAQ

Q: When will PSE&G restore power after the July 4 storm?
A: PSE&G has committed to restoring power to all remaining customers by 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 9, 2026. Many customers are expected to have service restored before that deadline.

Q: How many crews are working on restoration?
A: 39 PSE&G crews are currently working across Scotch Plains, Fanwood, Plainfield, Westfield, and Watchung. Additional crews are expected to arrive to assist.

Q: How extensive is the storm damage?
A: The storm damaged more than 200 utility poles and brought down countless trees across the region. Approximately 400 separate restoration jobs are being managed by PSE&G.

Q: Why is restoration taking so long?
A: The damage is complex and extensive. Some repairs require as many as 10 crews working at a single location. As crews reach each location, they sometimes discover damage that is more extensive than initially anticipated.

Q: Can you give an example of one restoration job?
A: On Arrowwood Drive, crews are repairing eight broken utility poles and nine sections of downed primary power line serving approximately 30 customers. The repair requires two full crews and is expected to take about 16 hours to complete.

Q: What should I do if my power is still out?
A: Report your outage to PSE&G. Individual outage reports help crews accurately identify affected homes and verify when service has been restored.

Q: What should I do if I see downed power lines?
A: Assume all wires are energized. Avoid downed power lines. If you encounter a downed wire or other immediate electrical hazard, call 911.