Jamaica

Getting Electricity in

Jamaica

Listed below are the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain an electricity connection for a newly constructed building.

The information appearing on this page was collected as part of the Doing Business project, which measures and compares regulations relevant to the life cycle of a small- to medium-sized domestic business in 183 economies. The most recent round of data collection for the project was completed in June 2011.

  • Name of Utility: Jamaica Public Service Co. Ltd.
  • City: Kingston

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No. Procedure Time to Complete Associated Costs
1 Electrical contractor applies for Govt. of Jamaica Electrical Dept (GEI) Inspection Certificate

The liscensed electrical contractor deposits application fee at one of the cashier service offices and takes the issued receipt of payment to the Government of Jamaica Electrical Department. The information collected from the electrical contractor is entered into a database and a date is generated based on a three week period from point of receipt of data and data entry.

The official fee is set as $16000 Jamaican dollars but this depends greatly on the Rate Sheet used which varies based on the type of wiring and the size of the business organization.


Agency: Government of Jamaica Electrical Department 		21 calendar days JMD 16,000.0
* 2 Receive internal wiring inspection from GEI and await preparation of report

The inspector conducts the internal wiring inspection based on the Jamaican 21 standard. If the customer premises structure of internal wiring used is accepted, the record of the inspection and results is recorded and the relevant information based on size, type and location of customer premises is sent to JPS. In cases where the internal wiring is not accepted, the customer is informed and has to restart the process.

Agency: Government of Jamaica Electrical Department 		11 calendar days no charge
3 Submit application to Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) and await site visit

Documents to be submitted alongwith application –Application letter; the address where service is required; when the service is needed; name and contact details of person representing the company for the application; load details on the major equipment to be used in your new/expanded facility and the rating in kilovolt amperes (kVA) or ampere (A) units; if applicable, a single line electrical diagram, prepared by a Certified Electrical Engineer, indicating the loading as well as other details for three phase (3) service.

The customer will also be required to present: a copy of the Certificate of Incorporation; Tax Registration Number (TRN); proof of property ownership/Lease agreement; valid identification (Driver’s Licence, Passport or National Identification) may be applicable in some cases; the Government Electrical Inspection (GEI) Certificate (if available prior to the application).

Agency: Jamaica Public Service Company 		7 calendar days no charge
4 Receive site inspection and await estimate from JPSCo

When the service order is generated, the parish office is informed and a team dispatched to conduct site visit which includes easement needed to ensure that construction process will not be held up and time and other resources are not spent unnecessarily.The findings from the inspection will be entered into a database that has predefined measurements based on the regular, current and projected factors that facilitate the successful completion of any particular job. The result will determine the final cost.

Agency: Jamaica Public Service Company 		18 calendar days no charge
5 Purchase material and conduct external connection works by the electrician

There is some external connection works which the customer needs to do, This is basically the external wiring up to point of connection provided by utility, a panel board, switchboard, and cables.

Agency: Electrical Contractor 		1 calendar day JMD 50,000.0
6 Utility conducts external connection works, meter installation and electricity starts flowing

JPSCo will purchase material based on arrangements with customers and conduct external connections. JPS requires that Rate 40 customers make a deposit of the projected sum of 3 months consumption. The customer can supply JPS with a bank guarantee cost paid for security deposit.

Agency: Jamaica Public Service Company 		49 calendar days JMD 1,461,675.5
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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