PM says JPS asked to explore relocating parts of power grid underground following Melissa

The Government wants the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) to explore, where feasible, putting sections of the national power grid underground, as part of its current exercise to restore outages caused by Hurricane Melissa.

Parts of the grid have been extensively damaged, particularly in western parishes, as the Category 5 storm brought super-strong winds as it made landfall.

Following the storm, JPS indicated that the hurricane caused damage to its high-voltage transmission lines, the backbone of its network system, along with essential distribution lines islandwide, particularly in the central and western regions.

It noted that a lot of work will be needed to rebuild the network.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said the Government has directed JPS to take on the exploration of putting power lines underground, as he delivered an update to the country on the impact of the hurricane.

Holness said a suggestion has been made for the ‘Elegant Corridor’ and ‘Hip Strip’ in Montego Bay, St James to be among the areas to be considered for this solution.

“Going underground is expensive, so we have to balance between expense and getting the grid up. But if we’re getting the grid up and we can get some resilience in it, then we have to get the resilience in,” Holness told Parliament.

“So we will balance as we can, but it wouldn’t be possible to, for all the grid that we have to put back up, to put it underground. But, in areas where it makes strategic sense, then we are encouraging them, and indeed directing them, to ensure that that is done,” he added.

The Prime Minister said electricity restoration from Melissa is ongoing on a phased basis, with priority being given to hospitals, water plants, communication, and dense residential areas.

He also said the government has given JPS strategic direction to restore large commercial and urban centres and critical public facilities.

Yesterday, JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant told a special Melissa press conference at Jamaica House that an additional 100 line workers are to arrive in Jamaica by the end of the week to help speed up the restoration of electricity across the island.

Grant said the company is also bringing in additional equipment, including more than 50 bucket trucks, to bolster the resources in Jamaica.

Follow The Gleaner on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram @JamaicaGleaner and on Facebook @GleanerJamaica. Send us a message on WhatsApp at 1-876-499-0169 or email us at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com or editors@gleanerjm.com.