The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says 74% of its customers have had power restored since the passage of Hurricane Melissa.

Following the hurricane on October 28, over 540,000 customers had no electricity.

President and CEO of JPS Hugh Grant says at present over 360,000 have had power restored and about 180,000 customers have no service.

He adds that additional equipment has been brought in, to optimise the resources of line workers.

The JPS president and CEO says 95% of customers in  St. Mary and Portland  are to have  power restored by the first week of December.

Restoration works are being done to bring about 75%  of customers in St. Ann, Clarendon and Manchester back online by the second week in December.

Citing the importance of tourism to the country, Mr. Grant says the JPS will be expediting restoration to the tourism belt.

Noting that power has been restored to Negril, Westmoreland, he said a redesign and rebuilding of JPS infrastructure will be required to restore power to western parishes. 

The strategy is to first  bring power to economic centres, hospitals and National Water Commission  pumps.