Kelly speaks her mind ... urges speedy decision on new power supplier

Correction & Clarification

We are unable to substantiate the statement in our May 19 Sunday Gleaner article headlined ‘Kelly speaks her mind’, which indicated that “one bidder was able to see the JPS bid before it was submitted

... .” We, therefore, retract that statement. We wish to apologise for the publication of this information, and for any insinuation against any of the bidders.

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Arthur Hall, Senior News Editor

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is imploring the government to speedily make a decision on which entity will be given the job of supplying the country with 360 megawatts (MW) of power to replace the aged and inefficient generating plants now operating.

The company is one of four bidders for the right to supply the electricity based on a request for proposals issued by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).

The OUR is expected to make its selection and recommendation to the Cabinet within the next 30 days.

Move now

But even as the OUR continues its deliberations and seek clarifications from bidders, JPS President and CEO Kelly Tomblin is urging the State to move now to get the ball rolling.

"At this point we are desperate for lower energy prices, and if we (JPS) are not going to be the entity that builds it, let somebody else build it," Tomblin told The Sunday Gleaner.

"I'm so frustrated by this experience. If you don't want me to build it, let somebody else build it, but the country needs desperately to get generation on the ground with fuel diversity," added Tomblin.

She refused to comment on claims, in energy circles, than one bidder was able to see the JPS bid before it submitted a bid structured to beat out the JPS.

"I'm not going to get into the politics, I'm not going to get into the process, I would have spent too much time and energy focusing on those facts rather than focusing on what is to be done, and that is new generation.

"This process has been one that has had so many twists and turns and this is just another twist and turn. For me, may the best man, or woman, win and hold the best man, or woman, accountable to do what they say they are going to do at the price they say they are going to do it."

According to Tomblin, it is time to forget the pipe dreams and the impossible proposals and get on with the job of fuel diversity

Tomblin argued that Jamaicans will not begin paying less for electricity until there is fuel diversity, even as she hinted that any break- up in the JPS monopoly on the transmission and distribution of electricity will not lead to lower process.

"Until we have a new power plant, new fuel diversity, we won't have dramatic decrease in the cost of energy," said Tomblin.