JPS reports on islandwide power outage

Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is reporting that electrical power has been restored to all its customers following last night’s islandwide blackout.



The company said the restoration of power began soon after the power outage, which occurred just after 6pm yesterday evening.



JPS said preliminary reports indicate that the shutdown was triggered by a fault affecting the transmission line between the company’s Duhaney substation, in St. Andrew, and the Tredegar substation, in St Catherine.



The company’s management has scheduled a press conference for 2.30pm this afternoon at its head office in New Kingston.



A meeting is now underway involving the Energy Minister, Clive Mullings, representatives of the JPS and the Office of the Utilities Regulation (OUR), to determine the circumstances of the blackout.



Prime Minister, Bruce Golding, who ordered the meeting asked Mr. Mullings to examine the recommendations made by the team of Canadian consultants, which was brought in to investigate the last islandwide power outage in July, 2007.



Director General of the OUR, J. Paul Morgan, said the regulatory agency will be conducting its own investigations into the blackout.