By Vernon Daley, Staff Reporter
Hylton
THE OFFICE of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has raised concerns about some of the reasons offered by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) for the October 24 islandwide blackout.
Mining and Energy Minister Anthony Hylton told Parliament on Tuesday that the utilities watchdog was still troubled by two issues arising from the company's report on the event.
The first relates to whether there was appropriate maintenance of batteries used to power the circuit breakers at the Hunts Bay facilities where the initial fault developed.
The OUR is also concerned about the explanation offered by the company for the closure of the circuit breaker on the power line that would have isolated the Hunts Bay A from B station.
This left opened the possibility that the company could be forced to pay compensation to its customers if it is found to have been negligent in preventing the black-out.
Minister Hylton told Parlia-ment that by December 5, the OUR will complete its final report on whether the company breached its guaranteed standards to customers or any aspect of its operating licence.
Mr. Hylton pointed out that under its licence, the company is required to meet certain standards and failure to do so could be taken into account at the time of its Tariff review and a penalty imposed on it.
"The company has, under its Citizen's Charter, guaranteed a certain level of performance, a breach of which could give rise to claims for compensatory payments to customers," the Minister said. The company may also be subjected to claims in respect of damage to equipment if the investigations reveal that it had been negligent, he added.
Minister Hylton was updating Parliament on the report submitted to him by JPSCo setting out the reasons for the sudden black-out which plunged the country into darkness for more than four hours.
JPSCo, which was divested to Mirant Corporation earlier this year, said a number of events starting about 5:37 p.m. led to the total shutdown of the company's power supply. These were triggered by the closing of a circuit breaker at the Hunts Bay 'A' switchboard. On the closing of the circuit breaker, a short circuit occurred in the system. Soon after another fault developed on the Greenwich Road to Rockfort 69 KV line, close to the Rockfort end.
This situation worsened because primary protection devices such as circuit breakers, failed to operate. Secondary protection devices also failed to operate causing generators at the company's various plants to become unstable and trip out, the company said.
The company has submitted a list of recommendations aimed at preventing a recurrence of the problem.
"In consultation with the OUR, I will be insisting on a specific project of works to effect the improvements under an agreed plan of action and timetable, to ensure that the events of October 24 are not repeated," the Minister said.
