WESTERN BUREAU:
CONSUMERS OF electricity in Montego Bay and its environs need not to be concerned over a series of short power outages they have been experiencing recently, according to Chief Technical Officer at the Jamaica Public Services Company (JPSCo) Michael Moss.
The power outages, which some reports indicate last for less than 30 seconds have been a nuisance for sections of the second city, especially during the weeks leading up to Christmas.
However, in an interview with The Gleaner, Mr. Moss said that there should be no cause for concern as the problem is being caused by an automatic reclosing feature on the company's system.
Moss said the automatic reclosing feature is a breaker that temporarily shuts off the electricity if there is a momentary fault on the lines. He said a vehicle hitting a pole, lightning, high winds or vegetation can serve as triggers for the automatic reclosing feature.
"The aim of the automatic reclosing feature is to prevent extended outages if there is a short term fault on the lines," Moss noted. "It basically close and restore the supply if no long term problems are detected."
He added that the light and electricity company has detected only six temporary outages within the past six weeks on the breaker that serves downtown Montego Bay and it environs. He said in order for the company to initiate an extensive investigation into any locale, at least ten outages must be detected on a particular breaker.
"Although we investigate every single outage six outages is below the mark for triggering an extensive investigation," he noted.
