EPOC Chairman suggests removal of non-fuel charges on electricty

Richard Byles, Chairman of the Economic Programme Oversight Committee, (EPOC) says the country may have to extend the efforts to bring electricity prices down, by looking at ways to cut the non-fuel charges on bills.

 Currently, non-fuel charges account for 36 percent of electricity bills or about US 14 cents per kilowatt hour.The focus so far has been on cutting the fuel rates with the new 360 megawatt plant.

 But  Byles said focus must not be lost on non-fuel rates which are high, mostly because of electricity theft.

“The distribution challenges that JPS (Jamaica Public Service) has is very real and I personally don’t see how they can solve it on their own because it involves thousands of people throwing up lines and taking power for free. For them to manage that process everyday is tremendous, it is beyond them …..” Byles said.