JPS transferring some Hope Pastures residents to overhead network

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) says it is taking steps to fully transfer some residents of Hope Pastures, St Andrew, to its overhead network after a section of the aged underground electrical network failed, leaving several households without power.

The areas affected are Hope Boulevard, Glendon Circle, Margaret Close, Hart Boulevard, Forsythe Drive, Jobank Close and Terry Close.

The company says some customers connected to the overhead network have also been affected, as they are supplied by the underground primary circuit.

In a media release on Saturday, the JPS said the transitioning of the affected customers to the overhead network will take about 48 hours, as a new line will need to be put in place.

The company has indicated that a handful of premises will not be able to benefit immediately from this transition to overhead, as they will need to first reconfigure their wiring to facilitate connection. JPS says it will be engaging the affected residents to further explain the requirements.

Hope Pastures is the sole community which was planned with subterranean power cables, installed over 60 years ago.

However, residents are in a long-running court battle with the JPS over who should pay for any rebuilding of the system, which the company says is obsolete. 

In June 2022, the Supreme Court ruled that the JPS was not obligated by law to cover the replacement cost for the underground electricity supply in the suburb.

However, the residents have taken the fight to the Appeal Court in a bid to have the decision overturned.

Follow The Gleaner on X 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.