There is to be a major upgrade of the country’s electricity grid. The initiative, dubbed the Smart City Project, involves the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) transforming to a Smarter Grid – a concept implemented mainly by first world nations.
A statement from the JPS said the electricity grid, with the addition of WIFI and other technologies, will do more than distribute electricity.
It will facilitate remotely controlled street lights, decrease power outage duration, support smart home devices and other benefits. The first phase of improving the grid will involve the installation of 20,000 SMART meters across eight parishes by the end of this year.
The JPS says this will be undertaken at a cost of J$341 million.
The SmartCity initiative is one component of the "Re-imagine Energy" corporate campaign, which involves the company undergoing a full scale re-branding of its presence in the energy sector.
JPS says for the last three years it has evolved from a traditional electricity utility, to an all encompassing energy solutions provider.
It has also moved from solely generating, distributing and supplying electricity, to retailing renewable energy solutions and a range of energy efficiency products for the home and industry.
Electric Car Market
Meanwhile, the light and power company is preparing to serve a future electric car market as it intensifies focus on better environmental stewardship with a clean and green agenda.
The company added that it will also continue to extend its product and service offerings by introducing new mobile apps and mobile money to facilitate ease of business.
JPS says there will be an expanded Pay As You Go programme and the introduction of Pay On Bill – to accommodate payments on JPS eStore products via monthly instalments on electricity bills.
The initiatives should be in place by next year.
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