AS part of ongoing efforts to improve its service, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has significantly stepped up the repair of malfunctioning streetlights. Since the start of the year, the company has repaired 3,682 streetlights across the island.

A release issued by JPS last night read: “JPS is making every effort to respond quickly to streetlight reports from customers, as well as from the parish councils, in order to carry out repairs within the 14 days agreed on as part of its performance standards. In the meantime, the company is working with the Ministry of Local Government to finalise a Memorandum of Understanding and Centralised Streetlight Database, which will facilitate joint audits of streetlights in each parish, and the implementation of a more effective streetlight repair programme.”

One of the JPS’ primary objectives is to eliminate day burning lamps, wherever possible. The failure of photocells is the primary cause of day burning lamps.

The photocell controls the on/off function of the lamps, and is designed to fail in “safe mode”, so the lamps stay on rather than lose the service altogether. However, day burning lamps contribute to overall energy loss, which the company is actively working to reduce.

It is important to note also, that each streetlight is billed for 12 hours of operation per day, based on the expectation that they will operate from dusk to dawn.

JPS has responsibility for the repair and replacement of streetlights. However, the respective parish councils determine when and where new streetlights are installed.

There are approximately 96,000 streetlights across the island. Most are located in Kingston & St Andrew, and St Catherine.