KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr Andrew Wheatley, says the Government is committed to lower electricity rates, notwithstanding the increase given to the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), recently.

In an interview on the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) television programme, ‘Issues and Answers Programme’,  he said the JPS was granted an average 2.6 per cent rate increase by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), after a tariff review.

Wheatley explained that the rate increase is based on the new Electricity Licence (2016).

“We are pushing for efficient use of energy.

I had a meeting with the Clinton Foundation (recently), which will be assisting us with some energy efficiency conservation processes. In fact, Jamaica House will be fitted with solar panels very soon, so that the Office of the Prime Minister will come off the grid,” he noted.

Wheatley said this is part of a general thrust by the Government to ensure that persons are more cognisant of the environment and use more energy-methods to get cheaper energy on the grid.

He said the Government is determined to ensure that 30 per cent of the country’s energy-generation comes from renewables by 2030.