JPS to give OUR more information on islandwide blackout

The Office of Utilities Regulation is assuring customers of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) that it is committed to completing its investigation and analysis of the August 27 islandwide blackout which lasted for several hours.

In a news release yesterday, the OUR said it plans to complete the probe within 30 days of receipt of all the required information from the light and power company. It said the public would be briefed on all the developments.

On September 28, the JPS submitted to the OUR a detailed report on the islandwide blackout in keeping with the requirements of the Electricity Act, 2015, which demands that the electricity provider issues a report to the oversight body within 30 days of the date of restoration of power. That report confirmed that a procedural error caused a total system blackout on JPS' transmission system at approximately 5:45 p.m.

In addition to the detailed report requirement, the JPS asked for more time to provide additional information that was requested by the OUR and has been given until October 31, to do so.