Ninety four residents in the community of Hope Pastures in Kingston, Jamaica, are trying to prevent the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo), the monopolistic electric power supplier in Jamaica, from removing their underground electricity supply designed in 1961 as an integral part of their housing scheme.
Underground electrical service implemented in 1961
In 1961, the government which owned the land, designed the scheme with an underground utility service for which the JPSCo was paid handsomely by the original owners. The scheme was enacted in Law through Parliamentary approval and the Gazette document has a clause for the utility companies to maintain and replace the underground service, a clause that is included in the home owners certificates of title.
JPSCo haven’t maintained underground system
However in February 1970 the JPSCo wrote an open letter of apology to residents for not maintaining the underground cables as they were difficult to locate, because they were being installed in conduits.
No power cuts even during hurricanes
Despite being paid for the system, the JPSCo now wants to reverse the law without Parliamentary approval, insisting that they can deliver power to the community in any direction they choose. We must state that for years, Hope Pastures residents have not had disruptions of electricity service when storms or hurricanes impacted Jamaica, because of the underground system. Now JPSCo wants to reverse that security.
JPSCo unccoperative
After years of collecting money from residents for using the system, the recent JPSCo directors refuse to spend maintenance costs, deny ownership of the system, claim unavailability of replacement parts, and claimed the company doesn’t have a license to work underground, hence the system cannot be maintained or replaced. Residents were required to either pay for installation of a new overhead power supply or to pay the company J$41million to replace the underground system. Both offers were unaffordable and suspicious since JPSCo claimed not to have an underground license.
Determined to install overhead power supply
After declaring the underground system irreparable, without proven evidence, the JPSCo began installing a replacement overhead power supply while homes were still supplied by the underground system. Requests from residents to engage independent qualified consultants to confirm their undocumented reports, were refused. This unsafe dual supply of electricity was not recommended by the Government Electrical Inspectorate (GEI). With the dual supply in place, JPSCo choked off the underground supply by deliberately not maintaining it.
Court injunction against JPSCo
The lack of Government and Regulatory body support forced the residents to take legal action. A Supreme Court injunction was obtained to prevent forced conversion from underground to overhead. The JPSCo appealed the decision but lost.
For years, the “failing” underground system, without documented evidence, was used to panic customers during power cuts especially before holiday weekends. Each household was given a choice to pay from J$35000 to J$300,000 for overhead connections after signing indemnity forms releasing JPS from damages; or provide their own power with expensive generators and solar systems, or remain in the dark. Even residents on life support had to pay and sign indemnity forms.
Excessive food spoilages resulted, without compensations and children doing examinations had to be relocated to communities with electricity,
Deliberately ‘killing’ underground electricity supply
JPSCo’s policy, that the company shall maintain all its assets in accordance with industry and best standards including stocking all spare parts to replace or rebuild both systems, has been violated. The court injunction has been violated. JPSCo denies forcefully removing residents’ electricity from the underground supply to overhead connections. However, Hope Pasture residents believe the monopoly supplier is deliberately killing the underground supply and forcefully removing them from its service by deliberately not maintaining or replacing it in order to circumvent the injunction while favoring the overhead system.
Contrary to the JPSCo’s position, the telephone company still maintains its supply system in underground conduits.
Underground electrical supply in MoBay, Kingston
Ironically, while the Hope Pasture resident endure this predicament, JPSCo is working with the Government to replace overhead cables on the Montego Bay Glouchester Tourist strip with underground cables, already funded by US$46 million (Gleaner Feb 19th 2017). The Gleaner edition of March 11th 2018, also reports laying of JPSCo’s underground cables to replace the overhead system along the Kingston Mandela highway.
Seeking help from Diaspora
While residents await another court ruling, they feel abandoned because they have received no help from government or regulatory agencies. They now appeal to the Jamaican Diaspora in South Florida and else where for sensible intervention in this serious matter.
Hope Pastures Concerned Citizens Group (HPG)
E mail hope.pastures.group@gmail.com
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