JPS Submits Plan to Improve Service & Minimise Rate Shock JPS Stands Ready to Serve You this Hurricane Season Making the Grid Smarter For You! Grounding & Wiring Your Smart Meter & You Get The LED Solar Emergency Bulb at a JPS eStore Today!
JPS Submits Plan to Improve Service and Minimise Rate Shock JPS’ main focus this year is to improve the reliability of power supply to customers, while making electricity more affordable. In keeping with its commitment to improve service, the Company is investing more than J$14 Billion in 2018 – the highest in any single year. JPS is also putting in a number of initiatives to cut cost and operate more efficiently. It is against this background that the Company recently submitted an application to the Office of the Utilities Regulation (OUR) for the annual tariff adjustment. As a regulated company, JPS cannot unilaterally increase its rates. Based on the licence that governs its operations, the Company is required to apply to the OUR for an annual tariff review, which usually results in an adjustment in its base electricity rates. The 2018 application was submitted in early May, with the following main objectives: 1.
To secure sufficient revenues to support the continued investment in the electricity
infrastructure, including investment needed to reduce system losses; and 2.
To manage rate impacts on customers, and minimize the possibility of rate shocks going
forward. JPS remains committed to providing customers with reliable service at an affordable cost. To this end, the Company continues to aggressively pursue stretched initiatives to manage the electrical system in a manner that ensures affordability, reliability and quality of service to customers. Many of these initiatives are intended to create a smooth tariff ramp for customers through the next regulatory period, and provide continued support to the Company’s grid investment strategy. When taken together, the cost reduction initiatives combined with the factors that would increase costs, would result in an increase of 2% in non-fuel base rates, and an average overall increase of 1.0% on customers’ bills.
JPS Stands Ready to Serve You this Hurricane Season June 1 marked the start of the Atlantic Hurricane Season. This will last for the next six months, ending on November 30. In anticipation of the hurricane season, JPS has taken steps to ensure that all relevant operational areas of the company are ready to respond in the event of an emergency. Central to the Company’s preparation for the season is an ongoing structural integrity programme, which involves the replacement of poles to reduce the likelihood of displacement by flooding. In addition, the company is ensuring that backup material and other resources are in place to facilitate speedy repair and replacement of damaged equipment. Employee preparedness is also critical for the effective implementation of the Company’s emergency plan. JPS boasts the most sought-after linemen in the region who, because of their expertise, are often called on to assist other Caribbean utilities in their restoration efforts after hurricanes. This team of highly trained experts is standing ready to do whatever it takes to get customers’ lights back on in the shortest possible time after a hurricane. In addition to this inhouse expertise, we also have a network of contractors who are on stand-by to provide assistance where necessary.
Here are some tips that you can follow to prepare for the Season 1.
Trim trees and hedges, and remove danger trees that could fall on JPS lines during
strong winds. Contact JPS for advice when trimming or removing trees close to power lines. 2.
In the event of power cuts caused by severe weather, it is best to use battery-powered
flashlights instead of candles. 3.
Make sure family members know where the circuit breaker is located in case you need
to turn off the power. This will be necessary if you have to evacuate during a hurricane, or if water gets into your house. 4.
In case of heavy winds and severe lightning, turn off and unplug electrical equipment,
especially sensitive electronics. 5.
Never touch a fallen power line or try to move it yourself. If the line is still energized, you
could be electrocuted. Contact the police or report it to JPS. Check in next month for more tips on how to prepare for the hurricane season.
Making the Grid Smarter For You! As JPS continues to take steps to make the electricity grid smarter with the ability to self-heal, the company recently implemented an Advanced Distribution Management System (ADMS), which facilitated the installation of what is known as a Fault Location, Isolation and Services Restoration (FLISR) application. This comes on the heels of JPS installing a number of Distribution Automated (DA) switches, which allow the company to more efficiently isolate difficulties on the grid, and more importantly, gives the company the ability to transfer customer load when there is a challenge on a feeder. This means fewer and shorter outages for customers. With the FLISR application, JPS is now able to efficiently use the DA switches to: -
Minimize the duration of outages
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Identify challenges automatically, without human intervention. This can be followed up by
automatic execution of Element Isolation and Service Restoration in sequence, thus moving JPS closer to a true self-healing network. The software is now being tested in the New Kingston area and will be evaluated over the next few months for roll-out to the rest of the island at a later date.
JPS’ President and CEO, Emanuel DaRosa, is pleased with the new development and said, “These types of projects will certainly advance the smartness of our grid, and move us forward to being the best utility in the Caribbean, serving our customers with more efficiency and reliability.”
Make Your Premises Safe, With Proper Grounding and Wiring There is definitely a connection between the state of a building's wiring and grounding, and the possibility of equipment damage. For example, under certain conditions, a poor state of wiring and grounding can lead to damage to equipment and buildings, and even injury to individuals. The safety of your premises is in your hands. Before you can receive electricity supply, it is important that you get a Licensed Electrician to attend to the electrical wiring and grounding of the premises. This is important, as faulty wiring and grounding can cause damage to your electrical equipment and appliances. Also, to ensure continuous protection of your electrical equipment, you should have your grounding and internal wiring checked by a licensed electrician once per year. Is your home or workplace due for a check by a Licensed Electrician?
Your Smart Meter & You Over the past two years, JPS has been rolling out smart meters, as the company continues to become more technologically savvy and offer customers a service that is world-class. In 2018, we will be rolling out an additional 100,000 smart meters across the island. These meters will allow JPS to remotely connect or disconnect electricity. Here are the answers to some of the questions that you may have about your smart meter.
1.
What is a Smart Meter?
A Smart Meter enables two-way communication between the meter and JPS. It records your consumption of electricity in intervals of an hour or less and sends this information to JPS daily for monitoring and billing purposes.
2. How does it work? The Smart Meter sends automatic meter readings directly and securely to JPS. This means you will receive ACTUAL bills, no more estimated bills and there is no need for a Meter Reader to read your meter monthly.
3. Why is JPS changing my meter? Your meter is being changed as part of the company’s ongoing system upgrade. This year JPS will be changing approximately 100,000 meters across the island.
4. What are the benefits of this meter upgrade? The benefits include: •
Remote readings
•
Monitoring and tracking of your consumption
•
Improved service reliability
•
Prepaid and Postpaid options
5. How will I know when my meter will be changed? You will be sent text messages (SMS) and email advisories before your meter is changed and we will continue to communicate with you by text messages, after the change has been completed.
Get The LED Solar Emergency Bulb at a JPS eStore Today! 1.
The LED Emergency Bulb is not only used indoor; it can be also be used in
emergency situations outdoor. 2.
It has an adaptor and hook that allows the user to roam free in the event
that it is needed in another location during an outage. 3.
It is widely used in warehouses, homes, hotels, schools, etc.
4.
When fully charged, it can give up to 4 hours of lighting when there is no
power supply. 5.
It is chargeable by any light source and can also be charged while it is
being used as a regular bulb in a normal socket that is powered by electricity.