The Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd. (JPS) yesterday said it could take another two weeks before electricity supply is restored to some communities.

The JPS had originally anticipated a September 9 deadline for its restoration programme, but said yesterday in a press release that inaccessibility to some communities and the extensive damage to its power delivery system in others have significantly hampered its efforts.

The JPS, however, said it has restored power supply to approximately 98 per cent of its customers and that it hoped by Sunday, a majority of its 11,000 customers still without electricity will be reconnected.

working with ODPEM

According to the JPS, "the company will be working with the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management to facilitate additional support of temporary power supply and water to some of the affected communities until restoration work is completed".

The affected communities are located in the parishes of Clarendon, Portland, St. Thomas, St. Catherine and rural St. Andrew.

In Southern Clarendon, customers in the following communities may have to wait another week or two before their electricity supply is restored: Rocky Point, Rocky Settlement, Portland Cottage, Jackson Bay, Free Town, Sedge Pond, Gimme-me-bit, Chudleigh, Pridees, Hopewell, Gravel Hill, Cherry Hill, Rest and Milk River.

In Portland, St. Thomas and rural St. Andrew, the JPS said its restoration efforts have been met with the challenge of transporting poles and other material into some communities due to difficult terrain.

"Many of the power lines span long distances, in some cases going along mountainous terrain, deep ravines and riverbeds," said the JPS. "This makes it difficult to get into some areas by trucks, forcing the technical teams to carry material by foot in some cases."

The affected areas include: Cascade in Portland; Ramble and Sommerset in St. Andrew and Goat Ridge and River Head in St. Thomas. In rural St. Andrew: Oakwell, Greenwich, Silver Hill Gap, Chestervale, St. Peters, Continent, Salt Hill, Flamstead, Tower Hill, Comfort Castle, Content Gap, Mount Charles, Roberts Field, Halls Delight, Mavis Hill, Westphalia and Dublin Castle.

In St. Catherine, the affected communities are: Bellas Gate, Point Hill, Cedar Valley, Kentish, Top Mendez, Old Harbour Bay, Riversdale district, Rio Magno, Ham Walk, Woodhall, Mount Rosser, Ivy and surrounding areas.