Jersey Central Power & Light announced Thursday it plans to invest nearly $200 million this year to expand and strengthen its existing infrastructure in northern and central New Jersey, and continue rebuilding efforts in communities damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

According to an announcement of the investment, major projects are to include completing a new substation, building new circuits, replacing underground cables, inspecting and replacing utility poles, and ongoing vegetation management programs. JCP&L, of Morristown, is a subsidiary of Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corp.

The announcement comes a day after Public Service Electric & Gas said it will seek to perform nearly $4 billion of infrastructure upgrades to safeguard against future storms.