Solar Buzz Jamaica commends the Government’s recent announcements on the non-renewal of the current JPS licence and its renewed emphasis on expanding renewables to lower electricity costs. These measures echo proposals that industry bodies – including the Jamaica Renewable Energy Association (JREA) for over a decade and the recently formed JMEA Energy Committee – have advanced.
While the renewed focus is welcome, the real measure of success will be in how swiftly and effectively the Government addresses the practical hurdles that have slowed our energy transition.
Government Announcements
JPS Licence Renewal
On July 1st 2025, Minister Daryl Vaz confirmed that Jamaica Public Service’s all-island licence will not be renewed under its current terms when it expires on July 8th 2027.
Private-Sector Leadership
At the CARICOM summit days later, Prime Minister Andrew Holness encouraged businesses to invest boldly in renewables, highlighting their role in lowering bills and building resilience.
Net-Billing: A Critical Bottleneck
Distributed rooftop solar has enormous potential to reduce system demand, stabilize the grid, and deliver low-cost energy to all Jamaicans.
Yet the Net-Billing framework remains encumbered by:
- Complex Application Requirements — multiple technical reviews and declarations that can feel duplicative.
- Substantial Up-Front Fees — including a J$19,000 non-refundable processing charge.
- Prolonged Approval Timelines — often stretching weeks or months beyond statutory targets.
These procedural barriers deter many prospective applicants and slow the very renewable deployment the Government now champions.
Residential Tax Breaks: Unintended Consequences
In March 2025, MSET imposed the Net-Billing licence requirement for homeowners applying for residential renewables tax credits just days before the April 1st 2025 deadline. The last-minute rule change stipulated that only those with approved Net-Billing licences would qualify – a requirement that was not initially imposed when the incentive was announced with great fanfare.
Although Minister Vaz granted a limited extension until April 1st 2025, this effectively means all homeowners with solar systems now need a Net-Billing licence or risk operating illegally. This is not only impractical and, at this point, impossible to govern, but the Electricity Act itself states that homeowners who self-generate power from solar, with no intention of selling back, are exempt from needing a Net-Billing licence.
Recommendations for Practical Progress
To convert policy intent into real-world impact, we urge the Government to:
- Set and Enforce Clear Timelines
Institute a statutory 10-business-day window for Net-Billing licence decisions, with automatic escalation if unmet. - Simplify Documentation
Review and eliminate overlapping technical or financial declarations to streamline the customer experience. - Stabilize Incentive Rules
Publish any changes to tax-credit eligibility at least six months before they take effect, ensuring homeowners can plan with certainty – and clarifying that self-generating systems with batteries do not require a Net-Billing licence.
Engage Stakeholders Continuously
Convene regular working groups with industry, regulators, and consumer representatives to monitor progress and troubleshoot emerging issues – rather than announcing new policies that do not sync with the Vision 2030 policy or the Government’s renewed focus on high energy costs.
Solar Buzz Jamaica stands ready to partner with MSET, the Office of Utilities Regulation, Tax Administration of Jamaica and other stakeholders to translate today’s announcements into tomorrow’s clean-energy achievements.
With targeted adjustments to Net-Billing procedures and tax-incentive clarity, we can accelerate the deployment of distributed rooftop solar across the island – not just large, tendered grid installations – bringing lower bills, greater job creation, and enhanced resilience for all Jamaicans, especially at the residential level.
Jason Robinson
Chief Executive Officer
Solar Buzz Jamaica