By Guest Contributor – Patricia Ottey
Utility Companies in Jamaica include the National Water Commission (NWC) and the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). NWC is a nationally owned monopoly, while 80% share ownership of JPS is in the hands of private investors. You may hear people complaining about them at times. Many of us have solar water heaters, but very few households are completely off the grid at present; the number is, however, increasing and we are all excited about these developments.
Most expatriates live in the better areas of town and enjoy a regular water supply. However, many parts of Jamaica and even some areas of our towns suffer regular water lock-offs or even no supply at all! You may find that sometimes your staff members and their children may have to carry water from standpipes before they leave their homes in the morning. You may also see that people have containers of water in the bathroom, just in case.
Water bills are sent out monthly and can be paid at NWC office, any Paymaster or online and there is an early payment bonus of JA$250 which is deducted from your next bill. If you are renting, water may be included in your rent and then it will not be your responsibility.
Most of Jamaica was connected to mains electricity in the 1970s which was a remarkable achievement. For most people living in towns, the supply is regular and reliable but there are a few precautions you will need to consider:
I would recommend a special surge protector for the refrigerator (available at Courts, ATL or any appliance store) and a good quality surge protector for your computer equipment and any other valuable electronic appliances.
These do happen at times and JPS tries to restore power within six hours of receiving a report. It’s wise to make a report as early as possible by contacting JPS via their app or by phoning the JPS hotline at 888-225-5577 and following the procedure. Remember, you are reporting an emergency (an outage is classed as an emergency) and please make sure you get a report number, which you can quote if you need to call back for an update. It is wise to have a back up generator, which can cover the fridge/freezer and most of us have battery operated lights, candles and the good, old “Home Sweet Home” kerosene lamps.
JPS meters are read monthly and bills sent out subsequently. Your landlord may wish to transfer the bill to your name, which will require a personal visit to the JPS office. It may be easier to arrange to give the landlord the money each month, if he/she is willing.
You can pay your bill at any JPS office, Paymaster or online and, like NWC, there is an early payment bonus of JA$250 deducted from your next bill.
Any visit to NWC, JPS or any similar office may take some time; you take a number and wait your turn. I would advise taking a book or some work with you so you don’t feel the time has been wasted.
Some apartments or houses may have electric cooking facilities, but most Jamaicans use cooking gas (propane). You can buy or refill 25lb or 100lb cylinders at various outlets or you can arrange to have it delivered to you home. Most people have two cylinders, because same day delivery is not guaranteed.
Learn more about the utility companies in Jamaica by visiting there websites here: JPS and NWC. Also check out this additional post for more information on life in Jamaica.
