The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is to conduct in-depth post-Hurricane Beryl assessment of the electricity sector’s resilience.

This will span preparation for the category 4 hurricane, impact and restoration activities.

The evaluation comes in the wake of concern, that the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) took too long to restore power to customers, whose service had been disrupted by the hurricane.

It also follows JPS’ claim, that it faced several challenges with the restoration process.

In a statement, the OUR said 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.

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

The OUR said it is 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’ latest report to the OUR, on August 21 indicated that between August 19 and 20, about 91% of its St. Elizabeth customers now have electricity.

Just over 3,000 customers remain unrestored.

Additionally, about 37 customers in pockets of communities in Westmoreland, Manchester, Clarendon, Portland, and St. Thomas, 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 the company is 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 parish, ensuring customers are updated on the restoration progress in their respective communities.  

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

At a meeting last week JPS assured the our that customers still without electricity supply on August 13 would receive a zero bill for the next cycle.

The OUR has requested JPS to confirm that this has been executed.

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.