Letter writer Dan Vasse has argued, on the basis of expense, that relocating Jamaica's electricity distribution lines underground would be unfeasible. The implication, therefore, is that the suggestion by another writer, Charmalee Frankson, to whom he responded, should be shelved.

First, this idea is not entirely new. It has been raised in Jamaica over the last two decades or so, and was once decidedly on the agenda during the 1980s administration of Edward Seaga. Indeed, it had specific currency in the aftermath of Hurricane Gilbert in 1988. As with the not-unreasonable argument of Mr Vasse, the proposal has always foundered on the question of costs.

Changing circumstances

However, we believe that this is a matter that can no longer be dismissed in such an a priori fashion. Circumstances, after all, have changed. Indeed, even Mr Vasse's communication outlines an approach that might make the idea implementable.

It is now accepted that global warming is a scientifically credible fact, and changes to the world's temperature have spawned an increase in extreme weather events, tropical cyclones among them. The projection is for a continuation, even worsening, of this trend.

Prior to Gilbert, it had been almost 30 years since Jamaica had taken a direct hit from a major hurricane. In between, the island had been mostly brushed by lesser storms. Over the last four years, however, Jamaica has faced either direct hits or has felt substantial impact from at least four major storms. With each of these events, public infrastructure, including the electricity distribution system, has fallen under significant stress.

Indeed, the light and power company, Jamaica Public Service (JPS), has found it difficult to raise affordable insurance for its distribution system and was allowed by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to operate something of a self-insurance scheme via a fund to which consumers contribute. This fund, however, we expect, does not keep pace with what is becoming the annual cost of recovery.

In the circumstances, it would seem to make sense for JPS and its new owner, Marubeni Corporation, to explore ways to mitigate the damage, including running major distribution cables underground. Indeed, the actual laying of underground cable is not alien to Jamaica, having been used, in limited fashion, by the island's telecommunications companies for fibre optic lines.

There is no question that placing electricity distribution lines underground would raise significant cost issues, including impact on the consumers and, ultimately, implications for the cost-efficiency of the Jamaican economy. But so, too, does the annual cost of the post-hurricane repair of the JPS distribution system.

Cost-benefit analysis

On that basis, we would think it worthwhile that the OUR and the JPS conduct a serious cost-benefit analysis on the idea championed by Ms Frankson, including a determination of how such a project could be financed and paid for.

Consumers, of course, would have a place in that debate. We agree that somebody, usually the consumer or taxpayers, eventually has to pay for such projects. Yet, we might find ways for all the parties to share the cost.

Even if the contention that Jamaica's terrain would make underground cabling unfeasible for the entire island, that doesn't preclude it happening, say, in the Kingston Metropolitan Region, which accounts for perhaps 40 per cent of the country's population.