Jamaica

Getting Electricity in

Jamaica

Below is a detailed summary of the procedures, time and cost required for a business to obtain an electricity connection for a newly constructed building in Jamaica.

This information 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 185 economies. The most recent round of data collection was completed in June 2012.

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  • Standardized Company

  • 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

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 		1 calendar day 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 Electrical Inspectorate 		21 calendar days no charge
* 3 Submit application to Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) and await site visit

Documents to be submitted along with 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 License, 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 Engineering Team is informed in the case of complex connections to conduct a site visit. The site visit is conducted to determine the site layout and the requirements that will have to be met to supply the customer with electricity. Requirements include number of poles, transformers, length of conductor among other items that will be needed. A drawing is prepared of the site layout, to outline to the Easement team, any situations that may require legal action or reference and the reasoning behind such action; as well as the Construction Team, to facilitate the successful execution of the development process. The findings from the site visit will be entered into an application 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 estimate. This cost is communicated to the customer. [This particular case is not considered as such to warrant the inclusion of easement costs in total estimate, but in a many cases, a provision is made for such costs when an electrical equipment other than a service wire may need to be placed on a customer's or connecting customer's premises to successfully execute the construction process]
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 		7 calendar days JMD 250,000.0
6 Utility conducts external connection works, meter installation and electricity starts flowing

JPSCo will purchase material based on arrangements with customers and carryout the necessary construction work and external connections required. Once the job has been completed, JPSCo will invite the Government of Jamaica Electrical Department (GEI) Office to carryout inspection on additionally electrical work done on electrical power lines. Once certified by the GEI Office, the customer is contacted and requested to provide JPS with a security deposit that is refundable upon termination of service being provided. Rate 40 customers are required to make a deposit of the projected sum of 3 months consumption. The cost attached is JMD $2,730,000 The customer can supply JPS with a bank guarantee cost paid for security deposit of JMD$8,190,000. JPSCo will then proceed with final meter connection thus enabling the customer to make use of electricity.
Agency: Jamaica Public Service Company 		49 calendar days JMD 2,303,602.5
* Takes place simultaneously with another procedure.
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