For the second time in as many days, a team from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) yesterday had to disconnect power supply to a new apartment complex in St Andrew which had been illegally connected.

A release from the JPS stated: "Representatives of JPS had disconnected the service (Thursday), as the timeline for the temporary supply that is usually provided to facilitate construction, had expired. When the team returned to the location (yesterday), it was discovered that the supply had been illegally reconnected."

apartment complex

According to the release, several apartments on the complex were already occupied. A common area and a swimming pool were also found to be benefiting from the illegal power.

"In keeping with normal procedures, the developer should have made an application to JPS immediately on completion of construction, so that the company could begin the process of providing permanent supply. This often involves upgrading the existing distribution infrastructure to ensure adequate supply is available to support the additional load expected on the system. It is only after the permanent supply has been made available to the housing complex, that the individual homeowners can apply to JPS for individual accounts," the release read.

The appropriate steps were not taken so the developer will be held responsible for the illegal connections found. JPS will be carrying out its own investigations to assist the police in bringing the responsible persons to justice.

disconnection

Steps will also be taken to recover revenue from all the electricity determined to have been used and not paid for, before providing the permanent supply.

The release said JPS teams are engaged in disconnection activities across the island every day, as part of the ongoing fight against electricity theft. It is estimated that approximately 13 percent of the electricity generated by JPS is stolen.