The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has announced that approximately 17,000 customers are still without power following the impact of Hurricane Melissa in October 2023. The areas most affected include Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, St. James, and Hanover, with the majority of outages occurring in Westmoreland.
In an update, Hugh Grant, President and Chief Executive Officer of JPS, stated that by the end of February 2024, an additional 7,000 customers are expected to have their power restored. The company aims to have all remaining customers back on the grid between March 2024 and April 2024. Grant highlighted that around 40 percent of the customers still without power are not yet prepared to receive electricity.
Despite the ongoing challenges, JPS has made significant progress in restoring service. According to Grant, 97.5 percent of JPS customers have had their power restored since the hurricane struck, which translates to approximately 673,000 out of 690,000 total customers.
The company is committed to addressing the needs of the remaining customers and is working diligently to restore service as swiftly as possible. JPS’s efforts reflect its dedication to ensuring that all residents have access to reliable electricity, especially in the wake of natural disasters that disrupt essential services.
