In 2013, WBR Enterprises Inc. was selected by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) via a competitive bidding process to develop a 20 Megawatts (MW) solar farm - the island's first utility-scale solar project. The project was the third lowest bid received, in response to the OUR's request to supply 115 MW of renewable generation, with a proposed price… Continue reading Jamaica’s First Utility-Scale Solar PV Farm
The addition of new generating capacity to Jamaica's electricity grid can be achieved in three ways: 1. the installation of conventional power plants 2. the installation of renewable energy (RE) facilities 3. the installation of co-generation facilities. RE facilities refers to plants in which the source of primary energy continually (naturally) regenerates. Such sources of… Continue reading Jamaica’s Policy for the Addition of Renewable Capacity to Electricity Grid
The Fuel & IPP Charge on your bill combines two factors: 1) The cost of fuel used to generate electricity and 2) The cost of the electricity supplied by Independent Power Producers (IPPs). The fuel cost is by far the greatest contributor to the Fuel & IPP Charge. JPS says it needs approximately 20,000 barrels… Continue reading What is the Fuel and IPP charge on your JPS Bill?
The average cost of the electricity in Jamaica is currently at a five year low of US 25 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), according to the privately owned electricity company (Jamaica Public Service). JPS says the dramatic reduction in the overall cost of electricity is due to lower fuel charges, as well as the improved efficiency… Continue reading Average Electricity Cost in Jamaica is Down to Five-Year Low
JPS posted on Linkedin that they are "the #1 investor in renewable energy in Jamaica." Is there any truth to this? No there isn't! See my comment and their follow-up comment below. The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) via is Subsidy Company Wigton Wind Farm (WWF) Limited is by far the #1 investor in Renewable… Continue reading Is RE high on JPS’s agenda?
In this post, the sequel to JPS 2k13 Tariff Adjustment - impact analysis part 1, I will make good on my promise to provide detail impact analyses of the proposed 10.35% increase of JPS's non-fuel rates across the different class of customers. It turns out that in the submission to the OUR, JPS gave sample… Continue reading JPS 2k13 Tariff Adjustment – impact analysis part 2
This has never been done before, at least not by me! In this post I will attempt to break down and assess, for the purpose of the readers, JPS's Annual Tariff Adjustment Submission to the OUR (Office of Utilities Regulations) for an increase in the Non-Fuel Base Rates for electricity for the period June 1,… Continue reading JPS 2k13 Tariff Adjustment – impact analysis part 1
Solar energy technology continues to advance both in terms of efficiency and cost. The cost, however, is still outside the reach of the average hardworking middle class of our society. The need for alternative sources of energy is greater now than ever before. This worldwide drive towards alternative energy and greater efficiency is however not… Continue reading Solar Water Heating
Jamaica, the paradise island that is sometimes referred to as “the land of wood and water,” has great hydroelectric potential due primarily to its many rivers, land topography and climate. Out of a list of 120 rivers, the Island has several rivers that are suitable for hydroelectric power generation. Hydroelectric power is power generated from water.… Continue reading Jamaica’s Hydroelectric Potential
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