AFTER nearly 20 years in engineering and eight years formally operating in the solar industry, Powergrid Electrical Limited has evolved into not only a solar business but a family legacy in the making.

The company, which started informally through small solar installations while founder Sheldon Gordon was still studying electrical engineering at the University of Technology, Jamaica (UTech), has since grown into a family-run operation blending engineering and business expertise.

“Most doctors see their son and their daughter become doctors also. And the Chinese tend to have their kids in their business. So we are trying to provide a pathway for them,” Gordon told the Jamaica Observer in an interview.

His daughter, Sanoya Gordon, now works full-time in the business after graduating as an engineer from UTech. His wife, Sandy McKenzie-Gordon, who holds a master’s degree in business administration (UTech), manages day-to-day office operations. His son, Raheem Gordon (eldest), who recently completed engineering studies at UTech, is also expected to become involved in the business.

“They [his children] don’t necessarily have to be in the company full-time if they don’t want to, but the option is there for them to have a foundation where they can build on,” he added.

Before formally launching Powergrid Electrical Limited about eight years ago, Gordon worked as a maintenance manager at GC Foster College while doing small-scale solar installations on the side before resigning and focusing fully on Powergrid Solar. At the time, solar installations were far less frequent due to their associated high costs, so the business had to pivot constantly to stay afloat.

“I started doing a variety of things to stay alive. I was doing solar; I was also doing electrical work, and then if AC work came along, we would do it, if water heater work came along, we would do it. So that created a level of diversification for us,” Gordon explained.

Diversification would later shape the company’s business model, with the business now offering solar installations alongside air-conditioning systems, solar water heaters, generators, and related energy solutions for both residential and commercial customers. From there, much of the company’s growth came through customer referrals and repeat business rather than traditional advertising.

“My customers have been selling us extensively,” he shared. “Sometimes they show off to their co-workers at work that they’re paying light bills under a thousand dollars, coming down from $60,000 to $80,000.”

The company’s expansion also coincided with major shifts in Jamaica’s solar industry over the last two decades. When Powergrid first entered the market, supplies for solar systems were harder to find, significantly more expensive, and relied largely on lead-acid battery technology, which required more space and typically lasted only four to five years. Today, newer technologies such as lithium-ion battery systems, hybrid inverters, and more efficient solar panels have helped improve performance and lower long-term operating costs for consumers. These newer battery systems now have estimated lifespans of up to 15 years, while solar panels can last more than 25 years. At the same time, rising electricity costs and increasing temperatures have continued driving demand for both solar and energy-efficient cooling systems.

“Back then, AC demand was mainly summertime, but now we find that there’s demand right through the year because of the increased temperatures we are facing on the island, or should I say globally,” Gordon added.

Now, with more new entrants in the solar market, Powergrid’s engineering background and electrical expertise have helped distinguish the business. Gordon noted that the company is often called in to correct installations that fail to meet electrical code requirements.

“What we’ve seen is that the persons doing the installation are not familiar with the electrical code. So a lot of errors are there, and we offer that service in-house, in terms of going in and making the necessary corrections,” he said.

In some cases, the company is called in to troubleshoot and repair improperly installed systems, particularly when customers independently import lower-grade solar equipment without proper consultation or technical guidance. Alongside growing referrals and demand, expanded financing options through commercial banks and mortgage institutions have also helped accelerate the company’s growth in recent years as more consumers view solar installations as long-term investments rather than luxury purchases. Powergrid Electrical Limited now operates as an authorised installer for financing programmes through institutions including the National Housing Trust and JMMB Group, helping to widen access to middle-income households seeking alternatives to rising electricity costs. The financing access, combined with customer referrals, has also helped expand the company’s reach among Jamaicans in the Diaspora who own Airbnb and vacation rental properties across the island, many of whom rely on the business for solar installations and energy-efficient upgrades despite never meeting the team in person.

“The future plan is really to see Sanoya and Raheem take the helm and continue to push, in terms of making Powergrid a household name when it comes to solar,” Gordon told the Sunday Finance.

Trust and technical expertise, he added, remain central to the company’s long-term strategy as competition within the solar market continues to increase.

Powergrid Electrical inverters and batteries

A system at Norpol Ice Factory in Falmouth installed by Powergrid Electrical Limited.

Sales representative Tiyana Rutherford explaining a 12 kilowatt Luxpower inverter to a customer.

Sanoya Gordon, daughter of Sheldon Gordon, is among the next generation expected to help carry forward the family-run renewable energy business.

Sandy McKenzie-Gordon manages the day-to-day operations of the family-run business.

A system at an Airbnb in Ocho Rios, with 2 16kilowatt Luxpower inverters in parallel and 8 10 kilowatt batteries.

Sheldon Gordon, founder of Powergrid Electrical Limited, is building what he hopes will become a lasting family legacy within Jamaica’s growing renewable energy sector. He was pictured at an event promoting the business and showcasing various items in store..

Father Bull restaurant in Greenwood, St.James, Powergrid Electrical installed 129 630 watt Bifacial Solar Panels. The power from the panels supply the restaurant with power during the day and the batteries supply power in the night.

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