MONTEGO BAY, St James — President and CEO of light and power company Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), Kelly Tomblin, has given Jamaica a failing grade on energy conservation.

Citing that “a recent study shows that Jamaica’s energy conservation is seven times the global average”, Tomblin contends that the country has only barely begun to be energy efficient.

“I mean seven times worse. And I want to underscore that. Because whenever I talk to customers who are hurting very badly, they tell me, ‘Kelly I have done everything I can. I am as energy efficient as I possibly can be’. I promise you we are just scratching the surface on energy conservation and energy efficiency,” she concluded.

“We cannot spend one more dollar on fuel than we have to. When I see people ironing for three hours a day with the inefficient irons… when the dryer is being run with only four items… same thing for a washer, that’s not energy efficiency,” she emphasised.

She said having listened to customers, the light and power company has embarked on an “energy revolution” with the opening of the E-store that sells energy-efficient products.

“Customers weren’t asking us for ecumenical changes. They were asking us for something grander, something bigger, something different; a real energy revolution, and we think we are the people to help lead that,” Tomblin stated.

She was speaking at the launch of the company’s flagship E-store, located at the Baywest Centre in Montego Bay, St James, on Friday.

She recalled the initial apprehension with which the E-store initiative was met.

“There were sceptics when we started. People felt JPS won’t do that, JPS won’t be that. And I hope, every day, that we give you a sample or some evidence that yes, we can, we mean it and we are going to be a different service provider for you [so] that in 2014 your customer experience will be different,” she added.

“I want to thank every customer in this room for your business. Trust me, we rise and fall with you. JPS, like you, is facing its own challenges. But I promise you, yes, we can; we can beat our challenges and we can rise together,” she stressed.

Guest speaker, Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce Sharon Ffolkes Abrahams — who commended the utility company — reiterated the significance of energy conservation in lessening the country’s oil importation bill.

“I know some of you may be thinking: Why is the JPS trying to make us spend less for electricity? Would it not be in their interest for us to spend more? The reality is that conservation is critical for all of us, and that include the JPS. The less we spend on imported oil, for example, the better things will be for all of us,” remarked Ffolkes Abrahams, who is also the member of Parliament for West Central St James.

“Let me commend (you) Miss Tomblin and the other members of your team on this very important initiative, and as you continue to partner with your customers so that they can better understand and manage their energy usage,” she added.