To all residents and visitors of Treasure Beach and Jamaica.

Effective Sept. 1st the rate we pay on the island for JPS electricity (the island monopoly) will be dramatically increased.


Other than the first 100 killowatt hours used per month, which will be billed at the old rate, the new rates are sky rocketing.

We were previously charged nearly $5J per killowatt hour, the new rate will be nearly $9J per killowatt hour. Please note that this is only HALF of what is billed each month as that figure is then assessed a small "foreign currency exchange factor" and then the usage cost is nearly doubled to come up with the final bill.

Bear in mind, we do not receive top notch service for these prices which were already far above the worldwide average for electricity.

We get multiple power surges daily and frequently undergo power outages lasting moments to hours- with or without any storms to blame! Appliances are destroyed quicker- food often spoils.

What can be done? There was an article in the Gleaner Supplement regarding how the Sandals and other all-inclusives will struggle to pay their bill-what of the small people and small business owners?

We can all as visitors and residents conserve, but that is not enough.

Perhaps EVERYONE should refuse to pay their upcoming JPS bill.

Perhaps EVERYONE should copy and paste this message in an email and send it to JPS stating they MUST come up with a better solution.

Does anyone have any other ideas?

Blocking roads isn't go to change anything. We need to force the JPS as they are a monopoly, to rethink this policy.

They are 100% privatly owned and the government has no ability to stop this.

oh, it would be so so so good to use some of this solar energy... would make independant from this...

Not only does the sun shine on the south coast, but the wind blows strong....there must be a better way......

There are solar and eco-building material distributors in BELMONT/BLUEFIELDS BAY on the main near the square. Don't have contact info...

I know that many people who are capable of washing laundry by hand are now using washing machine and dryers. They could save a lot and at the same time get their clothes looking cleaner and smelling fresher the old fashiion way.Use gas stoves,watch tv only when necessary and for everyone that iron their clothes with an electric iron i would just like for you to know that they draw more electricity than a tv/radio/fan put together.I know we live in modern times with almost everything we use now being pluged in first so, please try and conserve in everyway possible.Let us pretend we do not have electricity apart from switching on some light and getting a cold drink from a fridge.
FRIDGE AND LIGHT THAT IS ALL I NEED.

I'd love to see some prices and info for solar panels etc. I would definately like to have solar hot water.

Here is a link, which may answer some questions above. The residential water heater company that the government spoke about (Isreatech)is located in Mandeville and has close ties to Treasure Beach. As a matter of fact they supply Jakes and other Customers in The Tbeach area. http://www.mct.gov.jm/energy.htm