THE Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has officially launched a Reliability Improvement Programme, targeting its 12 least-reliable feeders in the country and has promised that this will lead to a 30 per cent reduction in the instances of unplanned outages by December.

Speaking at the launch of the Reliability Improvement Programme in Bryan’s Bay Portland recently, JPS Senior Vice-President for Energy Delivery Blaine Jarrett, said the company is investing just over US$33 million this year on the transmission and distribution system alone, with approximately US$80 million being invested in the overall power delivery system.

According to Jarrett, as part of its efforts, the JPS has also increased resources to respond to customers.

This included the addition of 40 new bucket trucks to its fleet; upgrading of 88 of almost 140 vans, and boosting of human resources by recruiting and training 34 new linemen. Another 17 linemen are presently in training to be added to the cohort.

The company has also increased the use of innovative technologies such as, more diagnostic tools, drones, infra-red scanners, and ultrasonic detection devices.

These advancements will allow for more precise and efficient maintenance and repair work, boosting the company’s ability to identify faults along its lines more quickly, which will result in fewer and shorter power outages.

The Reliability Improvement Programme launch also saw a massive exercise being carried out in the Bryan’s Bay area of Portland as well as Norwich, Norwich Heights, Passley Gardens, Burlington, Snow Hill, St Margaret’s Bay, Mount Pleasant, West End, Maidstone, Industry, Rock Hall, Chatsworth, and surrounding areas.

The operation leveraged the company’s resources from all across the island, to include more than 200 team members and contractors.

The JPS said the programme will continue with a weekly focus on the 12 least-reliable feeders identified, with the aim of completing comprehensive infrastructure improvements on the feeder.

The work to be done during each exercise includes:

• Pole replacement: Replacing aged and defective poles to ensure stability and safety

• Vegetation management: Removing overgrown vegetation that interferes with power lines with a targeted focus on fast-growing bamboos

• Lightning mitigation: Addressing issues related to lightning strikes that affect power reliability

• Transformer replacement: Upgrading and replacing transformers to enhance performance

• Equipment replacement: Installing new hardware and innovative devices to modernise the infrastructure

“The initiative underscores JPS’s dedication to addressing infrastructure challenges and enhancing the quality of life for all Jamaicans,” said Jarrett.