8% drop in light bills this month

Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) customers used to getting shocking news about electricity rate increases can breathe a sigh of relief come month end as the light and power company has announced an 8.4 per cent drop in its November electricity bills.

JPS said this was because of the impact of the decline in world oil prices.

"A typical residential customer will see a decrease of approximately 8.4 per cent in his November bill, compared to his October bill, as a direct result of the lower fuel costs being passed on to customers by JPS," said a release.

The utility company said, "Reduction in the cost of oil is reflected in the fuel and IPP charge on customers' bills. The fuel & IPP charge on November bills is J$23.365 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), compared to the charge of J$26.812/kWh that was applied to bills last month."

The fuel & IPP charge on electricity bills changes each month, depending mainly on the cost of the oil that JPS and the other power-generating companies buy to produce electricity. This charge makes up more than 60 per cent of customers' electricity bills each month, JPS said.

The company is, however, encouraging customers to continue their conservation efforts, despite the drop in the fuel charge on bills.