OUR to conduct in-depth post-Beryl assessment of the electricity sector’s resilience

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) says it is committed to spearheading an in-depth post-Hurricane Beryl evaluation of the resilience of the electricity sector. This will span preparation for the hurricane, its impact, and restoration activities.

“The assessment will seek to identify culpability (if, or where it exists), gaps, areas for improvement, policy and legislative recommendations to ensure the resilience of the utility infrastructure, improved communication with stakeholders, and enhanced disaster recovery,” OUR said in a press release today.

“This should provide a basis for further policy and legislative recommendations as deemed necessary.”

OUR said it is also continuing to engage with the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) to ensure that the restoration activities in St Elizabeth are expedited and that all customers are restored to the grid.

JPS's latest report to the OUR – dated August 21, 2024 – indicates that between August 19-20, 34,549 (91.4 per cent) of its St Elizabeth customers now have their electricity supply, with 3,247 unrestored.

There are still 37 customers in pockets of communities in Westmoreland, Manchester, Clarendon, Portland, and St Thomas who JPS claims are awaiting the resolution of specific obstructions to have their supplies restored.

The JPS has maintained that it is “…still on track to complete full restoration by August 31…” even while asserting that they are challenged by adverse weather conditions.

“While not taking up the OUR's recommendation to provide specific restoration dates for each location, the company said that it has integrated an external liaison within its incident command structure to engage daily with key stakeholders, including members of parliament, mayors, community leaders, and disaster planning coordinators in the parishes, ensuring customers are updated on the restoration progress in their respective communities,” the agency said.

Regarding JPS's discretionary measures considered and/or already available for the relief of customers in St Elizabeth and elsewhere, it will be contributing $50 million to customers in St Elizabeth without power after August 12, and providing discounts on building supplies, extending payment plans, suspending disconnections, providing bill credits along with other community support.

“JPS had also assured the OUR at a meeting on August 13, 2024 that customers still without electricity supply on August 13, 2024 would receive a zero bill for the next cycle. The OUR has requested JPS to confirm that this has been being executed,” the regulator said.

JPS has reported that the redesign and reconstruction efforts in St Elizabeth are ongoing, with affected areas currently identified to include Southfield, Great Bay, Newcombe Valley, Old Wharf Road, Blunters, Beacon, and Short Hill, with more locations being added.

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