Jamaica Nears Full Power Restoration: 88% Restored After Hurricane Melissa, Accelerating Jamaica Power Restoration Efforts
Kingston, Jamaica – Significant progress is being made in Jamaica power restoration efforts following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa. The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) reports that, as of December 25, 2025, an impressive 88% of customers have had their electricity service restored. This marks a crucial advancement in the island’s power outage recovery and highlights the ongoing commitment to Jamaica power restoration. Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm, ravaged the island nearly two months ago, causing widespread destruction that necessitated intensive Jamaica power restoration work.
Intensified Jamaica Power Restoration Efforts
Crews are working tirelessly around the clock to achieve complete Jamaica power restoration. JPS teams, bolstered by international partners, are focused on the hardest-hit regions to expedite the Jamaica power restoration process. Rebuilding and redesigning damaged Jamaican infrastructure is paramount to this ongoing effort. Over 200 overseas linemen have joined JPS crews, many hailing from Canada and the United States, to aid in the Jamaica power restoration. Specialized equipment, including bucket trucks and diggers, has also arrived, significantly speeding up repairs and contributing to effective Jamaica power restoration. Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has lauded the collaborative spirit driving this intensive Jamaica power restoration initiative, acknowledging the crucial partnership between the government and JPS in achieving successful Jamaica power restoration.
Hurricane Melissa’s Devastating Impact on Jamaican Infrastructure
Hurricane Melissa struck with catastrophic force, leaving behind widespread damage. Key infrastructure, critical for consistent power, sustained severe blows. Transmission towers were obliterated, and many communities required extensive rebuilding. Western parishes, including Westmoreland, St. Elizabeth, and St. James, bore the brunt of Hurricane Melissa’s fury. The extensive Hurricane Melissa damage, coupled with significant flooding, hampered immediate recovery efforts. Power outages affected an estimated 500,000 residents, with some areas experiencing a complete loss of communication services in the wake of the Hurricane Melissa damage, underscoring the need for swift Jamaica power restoration.
Government Support for Jamaican Infrastructure Rebuild and Jamaica Power Restoration
The Jamaican government is providing substantial support to JPS’s recovery and Jamaican infrastructure rebuild initiatives. The Cabinet has approved a US$150 million loan specifically to accelerate the Jamaica power restoration work and the broader Jamaican infrastructure rebuild. Minister Vaz has emphasized the necessity of this loan for national recovery and the Jamaican infrastructure rebuild. The five-year loan offers flexibility for early repayment by JPS. This vital financial backing ensures the continuation of restoration operations and the retention of essential overseas linemen Jamaica, crucial components of the Jamaican infrastructure rebuild and overall Jamaica power restoration goals. The government anticipates the full repayment of this loan as part of the successful Jamaican infrastructure rebuild.
Looking Ahead to Full Jamaica Power Restoration
The ultimate objective remains achieving full Jamaica power restoration across the island. JPS President and CEO Hugh Grant is spearheading this critical initiative, committing to restoring power to all customers. However, the scale of the Hurricane Melissa damage means that some communities may face prolonged power outages, with full JPS electricity restoration not expected until February 2026 in the most severely affected areas. JPS is diligently working towards complete Jamaica power restoration by the end of January 2026. The company is prioritizing critical infrastructure, including hospitals and economic hubs, in its JPS electricity restoration plan. Despite remaining challenges, such as access issues and unique customer premise problems that continue to slow progress on JPS electricity restoration, the resilience of the Jamaican community is evident. Jamaica is actively engaged in rebuilding, emerging stronger after this period of power outage recovery and JPS electricity restoration.