Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter

PAULWELL

The public will have to wait until next week to hear the findings of the Canadian experts investigating the islandwide electricity blackout that occurred on July 15.

Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, said on Tuesday that he has received a preliminary update on the findings. A detailed report should be ready by Friday.

The Minister on Tuesday received a report on the progress of the team investigating the recent power blackout. "I intend to share what they said to me with the Cabinet on Monday before we will be able to say anything publicly," Mr. Paulwell told The Gleaner.

The team of experts, from Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP and Rusnov & Associates Limited, arrived in the island last Wednesday to conduct a forensic investigation into the blackout. The team left the island on Tuesday.

Not only did the team investigate the blackout, but they are expected to make recommendations on the development of effective regulatory and management systems for the power company.

Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller had ordered the independent investigation into the blackout, arguing that the prolonged power outage was a major threat to national security, consumer comfort and production.

Initial reports from the power provider Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. indicated that the outage was caused by lightning that affected the lines from Bogue, Montego Bay, to Duncans, Trelawny.

Meanwhile, the Office of Utilities Regulation is expected to make statements on the preliminary report it received from the JPS later this week.