JPS will launch the project for the construction of
CLAIMING he was distressed at the price of electricity at US 40 cents per kilowatt-hour, Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining Phillip Paulwell said he is determined to ensure the full liberalisation of the energy sector to help drive down the electricity costs.
Speaking at a function in Kingston yesterday, Paulwell said that he was not prepared to wait on the Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) three-year plan to bring down the cost of electricity to the consumer.
“I believe we have to free up the system. We have to liberalise. We have to enable the private sector with their R&D (research and development) to decide on the best technology for Jamaica at this time,” Paulwell stated.
The liberalisation of the market will not happen by “sitting around and waiting on a plan from JPS that in three years’ time we are going to do so and so”, the minister noted.
“It is when you unleash the spirit of competition, the vibrancy of the market, allow our consumers to finally become the rulers when it comes to energy,” he said.
Earlier this month, the JPS
Phillip Paulwell, Minister of Mining and Energy
Anastasia Cunningham,
The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) revealed details of its plans to reduce the cost of electricity by 32 to 40%, through the building of a new power plant in Old Harbour Bay.
Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell
The Jamaica Public Service Company’s (JPS) plan to invest US$616 million (J$53 billion) to construct a new liquefied
Jamaica Public Service Co. building in New Kingston -File.
Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writer
After months of mounting criticism about the high cost of electricity, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), will today outline plans to reduce energy costs.
The announcement will come at a press conference scheduled for 10 a.m. today, at the company
JAMAICA Public Service Company (JPS) and National Water Commission (NWC) continue to report high levels of breaches of the guaranteed standards that are supposed to guide the quality of service that they deliver to customers, according to the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR).
In 2010, JPS reported 83,000 breaches, which would have cost the company $140 million if they had to fully compensate customers. Only $9 million of that amount was paid.
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JPS
Productivity improvements could lower electricity costs A study by the Jamaica Productivity Centre (JPC) offers evidence of the performance gap between Jamaica Public Service (JPS) power generation and other domestic power producers; ranks the JPS distribution operations among the least efficient in the region for total distribution losses, non-technical losses and reliability; and places JPS in the group with the highest electricity prices. At issue is whether modifications to the current operations of JPS and changes to the orientation of regulation could deliver significant short-term benefits by way of lower electricity prices. The rising cost of electricity is inimical to the interest of consumers and to national growth and development. Hence the generation and distribution of electricity in Jamaica continues to be the focus of intense debate. While much of this debate has been centred on whether coal or liquefiednatural |