Kingston, Jamaica (McKoy’s Information) – As Tropical Storm Melissa creeps nearer to Jamaica, the nation’s energy firm is warning residents to brace for increased electrical energy payments within the coming days.
Talking Thursday morning at a particular Jamaica Home press briefing, Hugh Grant, President and CEO of the Jamaica Public Service Firm (JPS), stated the storm is already disrupting the nation’s provide of liquefied pure fuel (LNG) — the cheaper gasoline used to generate a lot of Jamaica’s electrical energy.
Grant defined that the floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), which offers LNG to JPS, must be demobilised due to the risk posed by Tropical Storm Melissa, which forecasters say may strengthen right into a hurricane by the weekend.
“We’ve been suggested that the FSRU will probably be taken offline resulting from security considerations,” Grant stated. “With out LNG at a few of our amenities, and with one of many main items that may solely burn LNG unavailable, we’ll have to make use of alternate diesel gasoline — which is rather more costly.”
Diesel Might Drive Up Gentle Payments
Grant stated that whereas JPS is doing every thing doable to maintain the lights on for Jamaicans, switching to diesel oil could have a direct affect on electrical energy prices.
“The truth is that diesel oil is a pricier commodity than LNG,” he defined. “That might create upward stress on clients’ payments.”
He additionally identified that with a few of JPS’s extra environment friendly energy items now offline, the corporate should depend on much less environment friendly technology strategies to keep up grid stability — one other issue that would result in non permanent will increase in billing.
JPS Working to Minimise Influence
Grant assured the general public that JPS is working intently with the Workplace of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and different authorities businesses to minimise the affect on customers.
On the identical time, he reminded clients that JPS has now achieved 100 per cent sensible meter protection islandwide, which means that every one readings will probably be correct even in the course of the storm.
“We wish clients to know that their payments will mirror precise utilization, not estimates,” Grant stated.
In the meantime, Tropical Storm Melissa continues to maneuver slowly throughout the Caribbean Sea, threatening heavy rainfall, sturdy winds, and flooding throughout Jamaica and southern Hispaniola.
