THE EDITOR, Sir:
Recently, I wrote a letter to the editor sharing a very positive experience I had with a Jamaica
GREGORY MAIR, the opposition spokesman on energy, is pushing for a level playing field in the pricing of heavy fuel oil sold by Petrojam to the bauxite industry as against the Jamaica Public Service (JPS), and, by extension, the Jamaican consumer.
In his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Mair contended that players in the bauxite industry purchased heavy fuel oil from Petrojam for 15 per cent less than the state-owned oil refinery sells to the light and power company.
“Why don’t we level the playing field, have a real competitive environment in the fuel sector and give JPS, and, by extension, the consumers of electricity, the same status as the alumina/bauxite producers,” Mair asserted.
According to Mair, the Bauxite and Alumina Industries (Encouragement) Act, exempts alumina and bauxite producers from paying customs duty or similar imposition on the importation of petrol fuel oil or diesel.
“Let JPS initiate a tender process where all providers of HFO/ADO (heavy fuel oil/automotive diesel oil) in the world will compete and where we will see the consumers of electricity benefiting from close to a 15 per cent reduction of the fuel cost, which would be approximately 10 per cent of our bills.
Bauxite industry enjoys reduced rates
I say this based on information I have in my possession. The bauxite industry purchases HFO 15 per cent cheaper than JPS,” Mair told his parliamentary colleagues.
He explained that the HFO used in the generation of electricity is purchased by JPS from Petrojam at a cost of some $6 billion per month.
Turning to electricity theft, Mair wants the crafting of legislation to impose stiffer fines on persons involved in the illegal act.
“The Government must sit down with JPS and agree on a clearly defined strategy for tackling the theft of electricity,” Mair said, noting that it was costing legal customers of JPS about $3 billion annually for illegal connections. The JPS is said to absorb a similar sum each year.
edmond.campbell@gleanerjm.com
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SUMMER is upon us and the desire to run the fan longer or even turn on the air-conditioning unit will rise.
But remember, so too will your light bill.
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If the satisfaction of reducing how much you pay JPS for electricity used is not enough incentive for you to conserve, think about the thousands of dollars that could go to your bank account each year.
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Residential consumers of electricity pay Jamaica Public Service (JPS) an average of $31 and $40 for each kilowatt-hour (kWh), depending on how much is used in any given month.
The price paid for electricity is higher for those with greater appetites for energy. That’s because the energy rate for each kWh above the first 100 kWh is 2.3 times the rate for the first 100 kWh
Have you been monitoring your energy consumption with a view to reducing monthly bills?
Yes, I have installed energy saving devices 40.38%
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Somewhat, every so often I try to cut down on my energy use 38.5%
No, I still have to pay whether or not I use it 21.13%
Read more:
Have you been monitoring your energy consumption with a view to reducing monthly bills?
Yes, I have installed energy saving devices 40.38%
|
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Somewhat, every so often I try to cut down on my energy use 38.5%
No, I still have to pay whether or not I use it 21.13%
Read more:
Daraine Luton,
THE Jamaica Public Service (JPS) and appliance giants Appliance Traders Limited (ATL) have partnered to provide energy-saving products and services to customers.
The partnership, which was sealed in a Memorandum of Understanding yesterday, will see ATL extending its distribution of alternative and energy-efficient products through the JPS’s eStore.
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ATL Group CEO and Deputy Chairman Adam Stewart presents President and CEO of the JPS Kelly Tomblin with a bag of goodies at the signing ceremony yesterday. (PHOTO: ASTON SPAULDING) |
JPS customers will also benefit from a wider range of cost-cutting products as well as technical and consultative services through ATL’s Energy Solutions arm.
“I think it demonstrates a genuine intent by JPS to want to show Jamaicans how to reduce their energy bill,” group CEO Adam Stewart said, describing the move as “uncharacteristic” of a power company.
The leadership of this company (JPS) has made it clear that they want their consumers’ bills to go down, Stewart reasoned, noting the similarities in both companies mandate to promote energy conservation and efficiency.
For JPS chief executive officer, Kelly Tomblin, “this is an example of two companies coming together and saying we can provide help and not in three years, but today.”
She said though the planned construction of the 360 megawatt (MV) plant will aid the reduction of the nation’s energy woes, “educating and empowering customers to responsibly manage their energy use today will go a far way to solving the country’s energy challenges.
“We can understand the insanity of a company who wants to sell products to its clients that will ultimately drive down our sales, and people ask me if I’m crazy,” the JPS head said.
She noted, however, that her 25 years in the energy sector had inspired her conclusion that “if we do the right thing, if we train people the right way, economic development happens (and) the world grows.”
While noting the susceptibility of the JPS to shifts in the economy, Tomblin said the company hoped the partnership would be viewed as “our next step in redefining who we want to be in our hearts and in our delivery”.
ATL made its expansion into the alternative energy business with the launch of its Energy Solutions store earlier this year.
“Record energy prices in Jamaica as well as in the international marketplace have heightened the need for sustainable alternatives,” ATL’s energy and engineering manager, Paul Grey said.
An expansion into the energy business was therefore a “natural progression” for the company, Grey reckoned.
“We are at a transformational period in the Jamaican energy sector that requires us to either heavily curb our existing consumption patterns or look to alternative sources of power,” he suggested.
For Stewart, “What we find is that the average consumer doesn’t understand the appliances in their homes that consume the most power.
“So what we find lacking is the key words
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I am surprised and concerned at comments attributed to both Opposition Spokesman on Energy Gregory Mair and president of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association, Brian Pengelley, in
THE Jamaica Public Service says it will be investing more than
US$5 Million this year in critical information technology infrastructure as part of efforts to improve the quality of service it provides.
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Ian Wray (right), director of account management at Ventyx, signs the partnership agreement for new customer service IT systems, while Gary Barrow (left), the Jamaica Public Service Company
THE EDITOR, Sir: The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is losing more than U$30 million each year to electricity theft. In recent months, the company has been desperately trying to remove illegal connections islandwide. But as soon as the JPS van drives off and turns the corner, the wires go back up again! Unfortunately, the burden of stemming this theft has been left up to the power company. But this should really be a problem for our police, as JPS is in the business of electricity production, not law enforcement. However, there is obviously a lack of political will to tackle the problem head-on. Honestly, there is no way many of these people can pay the actual cost of electricity. And the prime minister is particularly concerned about the plight of the nation’s poor. So, why not have an interim inner-city electricity rate? This could be a fraction of the actual cost. Many will scoff at this idea. But collecting something is a lot better than collecting nothing. It would be a win-win-win: The Government would save face with the ‘poor’. Paying customers would pay less. JPS’s 14 per cent loss to theft would be cut. One thing is certain: the |