Hot temperatures result in high demand of electricity in Jamaica

Due to the hot weather, Jamaicans have been urged to avoid prolonged sun exposure, and many are now looking for methods to stay cool, resulting in the island experiencing a high electricity demand.

According to Jamaican media reports, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) said Wednesday, June 14, peak demand went up to 675 megawatts.

However, JPS has assured that it has enough generating capacity to satisfy this level of demand in light of the 15 heatwave days for the island through to the end of August.

According to a report earlier this month, the Meteorological Service of Jamaica is predicting higher-than-normal night-time temperatures for most of September to November 2023.

It also said that eastern parishes are at risk of continuing or developing drought conditions by the end of November 2023.

The Met Service reported that the region is experiencing conditions typical of an El Niño and that “a transition from ENSO-neutral is expected in the next couple of months, with a greater than 90 per cent chance of El Niño persisting into the Northern Hemisphere winter”.

The development of an El Niño later in the year is likely to result in a suppressed rainfall season, less favorable conditions for hurricane season activity, reduced flood potential, and enhanced heat.

The “summer heat” is not only affecting the Caribbean region, but reports are that Communities from Houston to New Orleans in the United States opened cooling centers to bring relief as hot temperatures settled across US South.