Jackson Township officials have launched a new community initiative encouraging residents to report malfunctioning or burned-out streetlights, aiming to improve roadway safety and ensure timely maintenance by Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L).
The program seeks to enhance visibility along municipal and county roads, reduce light pollution to preserve the township’s rural character, and ensure all streetlights remain functional. Over the next 60 days, residents are asked to identify and report any streetlight issues — including burned-out bulbs, flickering fixtures, or areas that may benefit from additional lighting.
Reports can be submitted by emailing lightsout@jacksontwpnj.net, and should include the streetlight pole number and its location. Each pole’s identification number is printed on a metal tag approximately six feet above the ground.
“Residents deserve well-lit and safe streets, especially along major roads where visibility is crucial,” said Council President Mordechai Burnstein. “At the same time, we remain committed to maintaining Jackson’s rural charm and minimizing unnecessary light pollution.”
Burnstein noted that the initiative also aims to address a billing concern identified during a recent engineering review. Under JCP&L’s current billing system, municipalities are charged a flat rate per streetlight based on a fixed tariff — regardless of whether the light is working. Because there is no automatic meter reading to track outages, the utility depends on customers to report malfunctioning lights.
“We’re being charged by the power company for bulbs that have been burned out for months or even years,” Burnstein said. “This process ensures accountability and better service for our residents.”
The issue surfaced following an internal audit ordered by Mayor Jennifer L. Kuhn earlier this year. Township officials said the review revealed that some streetlights had remained unrepaired for extended periods.
Residents submitting reports are encouraged to categorize them into three groups:
1. Nonfunctional or burned-out lights that require bulb or fixture replacement.
2. Poles without lights where new fixtures could enhance safety.
3. Areas lacking both poles and lighting where installation may be warranted.
All reports will be jointly reviewed by the Jackson Police Department, the Township Engineering Division, and JCP&L to determine appropriate follow-up actions. Updated maintenance reports will be sent to the utility each month to ensure timely bulb replacement and system repairs.
While neighborhood streets will continue using standard fixtures, the township plans to install higher-intensity lighting along major roadways to improve night visibility.
For more information or to report a streetlight issue, residents can email lightsout@jacksontwpnj.net with the pole number and location details.
Police officers and public works employees should be involved in checking for malfunctioning street lights. They can put on flashing lights to warn other vehicles away while noting the the pole numbers. This can be done during their shift of driving around Jackson protecting the town. Lakewood also has a serious problem on dysfunctional Street lights
The email doesn’t work, can we get another ?