Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers, who are currently receiving service, will see a seven per cent increase on their bills issued this month for November’s consumption.
This adjustment was anticipated as the light and power company had to rely on more expensive fuel sources for generation because natural gas was unavailable in the period leading up to, and immediately after, Hurricane Melissa on October 28. Among other things, the Category 5 storm resulted in an approximately 30% reduction in sales, which contributed significantly to the increase in the Fuel and Independent Power Producer (IPP) rates.
In a media statement, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), which regulates the energy sector, says that together, these factors could have translated to a big hike in the November 2025 bills. However, to avoid bill shock to customers, JPS, in consultation with the OUR, has opted to defer some of the increase in fuel and IPP costs and recover it by spreading it over the upcoming months.
Therefore, for example, the average residential customer who consumes 165kWh per month would see a bill adjustment of approximately $655 on the previous bill of about $9,000. The OUR, in approving this adjustment, notes that given the scale of the disaster, it may take up to six months for electricity generation costs to stabilise and for energy consumption to normalise.
Given the likelihood that further adjustments could cause bill shock to customers, the OUR has urged JPS to discuss the IPP and fuel charges with the OUR before they are applied over the next months. The regulatory body is emphasising that the objective is to ensure gradual, manageable recovery while avoiding additional bill shock for customers.
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