NORMALITY RESUMED in power supplies yesterday, as all generating units at the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited's (JPSCo) Old Harbour Power Station, St. Catherine, were back online.
During load shedding activities last week, which threw some businesses and communities into turmoil, the JPSCo reported that three of the four generating units at the Old Harbour Station had developed technical difficulties. Those difficulties led to a shortfall in generating capacity and forced the light and power company to commence load shedding.
However, by Saturday afternoon, two of the three units had been returned to service.
"All the generating units (steam generators) at JPSCo's Old Harbour Station are currently on-line. The problems experienced over the last few days have been resolved and JPSCo now has sufficient generating capacity to meet customer demand. However, as is normal in our operations, a number of our other generating units are currently off-line for scheduled maintenance," Hubert Lawrence, of the JPSCo's public relations department, told The Gleaner yesterday.
The JPSCo explained last week that, because the company delivers electricity via an integrated grid, a problem at one power plant can affect customers anywhere on the island.
There have been no reports of load shedding since Saturday and, according to Mr. Lawrence, "no unscheduled outages are envisaged."
Mr. Lawrence also responded to suggestions that Minister of Commerce, Science and Techno-logy, Phillip Paulwell, has requested that the JPSCo submit a report explaining the reasons behind last week's power outages.
"The Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology and the Office of Utilities Regulation have been fully updated on the situation," he said.
Minister Paulwell boasted last Wednesday, during his 2003/2004 Sectoral Debate presentation, that JPSCo customers enjoyed more consistent and reliable electricity service in 2002, as the company completed Phase One of its generation expansion programme.
