Approximately 51,000 JPS customers still in the dark after Hurricane Melissa

Approximately 51,000 Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers remain without electricity in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, with Energy Minister Daryl Vaz indicating that full power restoration could occur sooner than initially projected.

“Jamaica’s restoration response has performed well above regional peers, and is close, if not best in class, with a level of recovery that is commendable and reflects disciplined execution, collaboration, and professional leadership,” Vaz told Parliament on Tuesday.

The Government had set a target of late January to early February for islandwide restoration.

He stated that electricity has been restored to the majority of customers in the hardest hit parishes.

In Westmoreland, 17,096 of 34,603 customers are without electricity.

In St Elizabeth, 18,333 of 46,145 customers are still affected.

Hanover has 2,799 of 16,733 customers without electricity, while in St James, 8,287 of 62,445 customers remain out.

In Trelawney, 2,501 of 21,019 customers are without power.

Manchester has 2,001 customers still affected out of 49,438, and in St Ann, 723 of 47,334 customers remain without electricity.

Vaz noted that of the more than 50,000 customers without electricity, approximately 21,000 are not ready to receive it because of the level of damage to their communities.

He said the month of February will be used to try and get these 21,000 customers back on the grid, who will be targeted through various grants and rebuilding programmes.

“As a nation, we must be clear about the reality of the remaining work. In the western region, what remains is not simply restoration. It is a redesign and rebuild. The final phase requires infrastructure redesign and full rebuilds, compounded by access challenges including new line routes, land access, installation of thousands of poles, and conductors stringing over land distances,” he said.

He further stated that electricity has been restored to all major hospitals and health centres, an important milestone, “despite extreme engineering challenges, access and constraints”.

“System resilience is being strengthened including the use of pool krete to improve resistance to pool uprooting, fibre glass components on transmission lines designed to withstand category five conditions and network redesign to reduce cascading and domino style failures,” he said.

The Minister also noted that JPS and the National Water Commission are collaborating to restore electricity to the Roaring River pump in Westmoreland, which is expected to be completed by January 15th.

- Sashana Small

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