OUR backs roll out of JPS emergency mobile power unit

Director General of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) Ansord Hewitt has thrown the regulator’s full support behind the commissioning of the Jamaica Public Service’s (JPS) Emergency Mobile Power Generation Unit in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth, describing it as a cost-effective and timely intervention that serves the public interest.

Speaking at the commissioning, Hewitt acknowledged that the OUR has often been at odds with JPS—and at times with the political directorate—and that some regulatory decisions attract public scepticism.

“That said,” he noted, “we are at one in the belief that fundamentally the electricity sector must be organised and regulated to serve the public interest.”

Hewitt said the regulator did not hesitate to back JPS when the utility proposed emergency facilities to restore electricity to key areas while the national grid was being rebuilt amid devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa, which hit Jamaica in October.

“Sure, we asked credible questions about technical feasibility and cost—and these initiatives are costly—but after a cost-benefit analysis we concluded it was far more economic for Jamaica, and for Treasure Beach, to have electricity restored quickly rather than endure an elongated outage,” he said.

He also commended the Government for moving swiftly to expedite the process, adding that the initiative has the OUR’s “full and unequivocal support”.

Once satisfactory responses were received, Hewitt said the regulator authorised JPS to proceed, and the commissioning now provides “proof of concept”.

While welcoming the relief for residents and businesses in Treasure Beach, Hewitt cautioned that thousands of Jamaicans remain without electricity this Christmas. The OUR, he said, is urging JPS to double down on restoration efforts and to apply similar creative, short-term solutions where feasible.

Looking ahead, Hewitt said the innovation offers lessons for building a more segmented and resilient grid, especially after extreme weather events, and pledged that the OUR will examine how such approaches can be embedded into national best-practice standards.

- Albert Ferguson

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