A JPS prepaid meter
As the government pushes to incentivise the prepaid electricity service, it has allocated $1 billion to assist the first 20,000 first-time customers who sign up for the Jamaica Public Service Company's prepaid electricity.
The money will be used to pay for house wiring as well as inspection in order to regularise those with illegal connections.
The first 20,000 new prepaid customers will also get $4,000 credit for electricity per month for six months.
The announcement was made by Finance Minister Fayval Williams during her budget presentation in the House of Representatives on Tuesday.
The minister announced that $2,000 of the $4,000 credit will come from the JPS while the other $2,000 will come from the government.
"This is an offer you cannot refuse," she said as she encouraged Jamaicans to join the prepaid system which would allow them to "buy electricity when you need it and in the amount you can afford".
Citing Energy Minister Daryl Vaz's revelation that in 2023 the electricity stolen amounted to J$40.385 billion, the Finance Minister declared that "Prepaid electricity will put legal electricity in the reach of many."
She reiterated that there would be no cost to these prepaid customers for the wiring of their house and no cost for inspection, while they would also benefit from the reduced 7% GCT on electricity, which will be implemented on May 1.
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