KINGSTON, Jamaica —
Electricity bills are heading north once again, with Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers facing a 7% increase this December, reflecting charges from November’s disrupted energy production.
The spike follows Hurricane Melissa’s impact on the island’s energy infrastructure, temporarily cutting off natural gas supplies and forcing a switch to pricier fuel sources. With power consumption simultaneously dropping by nearly 30% during the period, the cost burden spread across a smaller base of users, intensifying the effect on fuel and Independent Power Producer (IPP) charges.
In response, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has stepped in to soften the blow. Rather than pass the full increase to consumers immediately, a portion of the costs will be deferred and recovered gradually in the months ahead. The deferral mechanism is aimed at cushioning households while preserving JPS’s ability to recover its operational expenses.
An average household consuming 165 kilowatt-hours monthly will now see an estimated $655 increase on a typical $9,000 bill. The regulator warns that both usage levels and fuel input costs may remain volatile for up to six months as the sector recovers from the hurricane’s ripple effects.
The OUR has also mandated that JPS seek approval before applying any further upward adjustments to fuel-related charges during this recovery window, ensuring oversight remains tight and customers are shielded from unexpected shocks.
The focus now shifts to weathering this storm’s economic aftershocks, as Jamaica’s energy ecosystem stabilizes.
