JPS Creates “Maggotty Island” Hydropower Innovation to Power Sections of St. Elizabeth

– 90% of JPS Customers Now with Power

(Kingston, January 1, 2026) JPS has created another innovative solution to provide electricity to sections of St. Elizabeth, despite the devastation of the backbone transmission network caused by the recent Category 5 Hurricane Melissa. The innovation centres around the Maggotty Hydroelectric Power Plant in Maggotty, St. Elizabeth, one of JPS’ renewable energy plants.

Under normal circumstances, damage to the transmission network would prevent power generated at the hydro plant from reaching customers. However, a solution conceptualised and developed by JPS team members allows electricity from the renewable hydro plant to be fed directly into parts of the distribution network that are isolated from the rest of the grid. This isolated network, dubbed “The Maggotty Island,” has enabled approximately 2,000 customers to be energized— customers who would otherwise have remained without power for several months, while severely damaged transmission lines that traverse challenging mountainous terrain is rebuilt.

JPS President and CEO, Hugh Grant, pointed out that, “The damage caused by the unprecedented Category 5 Hurricane Melissa required a different way of thinking. The Maggotty Island is a powerful example of the JPS team’s ingenuity and determination to find solutions, even in the most difficult circumstances. By creating this islanded system, the Company has been able to energize communities using renewable power, despite the unavailability of transmission lines connected to the power plant,” he said.

Grant further indicated that this innovation was an important factor in enabling JPS to have 90% of its customers now with electricity. “The Maggotty Island, along with the Company’s proactive move in bringing in line workers from North America before the hurricane made landfall; the tremendous support of our Caribbean electric utility partners; and the subsequent procurement of additional North American line workers and specialised equipment, have all played a critical role in enabling us to hit this important 90% mark. This milestone achievement is testament to the significant investment we’ve made in our systems and infrastructure, our preparations before the hurricane, strong execution of our restoration strategy, and heightened stakeholder engagement,” he stated.

Speaking on the renewable nature of the Maggotty Plant, which generates electricity using the

Maggotty River, the JPS CEO explained that these plants do not experience the type of intermittency seen with solar and wind systems – referring to the hydroelectric plant as ‘firm renewable.’ This hydroelectric power plant generates up to 12MW of power, and is one of six hydropower plants operated by JPS.

The “Maggotty Island” was launched on Tuesday, December 30, bringing electricity to several communities, including the Maggotty town and several critical facilities – among them, the NWC Pump at Maggotty, the NIC Pump and telecommunication sites at Hounslow, and the Lacovia Police Station.

The innovation follows closely on the implementation of another creative restoration initiative by JPS — the Emergency Mobile Power Generation Unit — which is currently supplying electricity to just under 1,000 customers in Treasure Beach and surrounding communities. JPS says these solutions form part of a broader restoration and resilience strategy, aimed at supporting communities while permanent repairs are underway.

The Company is assuring customers that it will continue to work assiduously into the new year, to energize those persons still waiting on supply. However, President & CEO, Hugh Grant, warns that the proverbial ‘last mile’ will be long and gruelling. “We are now at the most difficult stage of the redesign and rebuilding journey. It will take more than ten times the effort to get power to ten times less customers. We know the wait is hard, but we ask our customers to be patient, while we rebuild together as a nation, following the worst storm to hit the island,” he said.