OUR orders JPS to restore electricity to all customers by August 12

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has directed the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) to restore electricity to all its customers by August 12.

In a media release on Friday, the OUR said failure to comply with the directive within the time specified will render JPS liable to enforcement action.

"The OUR has directed that JPS repair its damaged network infrastructure due to the passage of Hurricane Beryl in accordance with its Restoration Schedule to restore power to its customers who are currently without electricity and achieve 100% restoration of electricity to consumers throughout the island of Jamaica, subject to the inaccessibility issues faced in the areas specified as Exceptions …by 2024 August 12," the OUR release said.

The OUR noted that the JPS has missed previously established timelines.

OUR Director-General Ansord Hewitt said, “We have conveyed to JPS in all our engagements that we expect that it will exercise all diligence to expedite restoration. At our last meeting with JPS on Monday, 2024 July 29, it assured us that all service would be fully restored by 2024 August 12 in the most critically damaged areas. 

"The OUR is satisfied that, at this point, enough time has elapsed for JPS to have fully grasped the extent and nature of the damage and disruption to its network, the available resources, and the practicable timeline for restoration. We therefore expect that these are achievable targets.”

Some customers have been without service since July 3, when Hurricane Beryl blew past Jamaica.

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