Opposition spokesman on energy and climate change Phillip Paulwell says if the People’s National Party (PNP) is voted into office in the September 3 General Election it will lower the cost of electricity by, among other things, reducing theft.

“We have to get the price of electricity down from 40 cents to below 20 cents and that is from day one. The first area we will have to tackle must be the amount of theft that takes place. From day one we have to be on-board with a lot more renewables because the price is far more inexpensive, cheaper than fossil fuel, and we have to ensure that those persons who wish to wheel electricity from one location to another should be able to do so,” Paulwell said on Monday.

He was speaking following a presentation to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica (PSOJ) of the energy plans, programmes, and strategies that a new PNP Administration would pursue to reduce the cost of electricity in Jamaica and accelerate economic growth.

In relation to the focus on the reduction of electricity theft, particularly in communities with high losses, Paulwell said specific proposals include the use of solar photovoltaic (solar pv) solutions in these communities, to be implemented through available concessionary financing and other funding mechanisms.

He, in the meantime, highlighted the need for a renegotiated Jamaica Public Service (JPS) licence which democratises electricity and facilitates greater productivity for the private sector through a significantly reduced per kilowatt-hour (kWh) cost.

“We discussed the scope of a future JPS licence and while we have always embraced the notion that it has to be substantially changed and we are prepared not to wait until 2027, but from day one to engage in those negotiations to effect those meaningful changes. For example, to remove the restrictions on people who operate in the Special Economic Zone from doing their own electricity generation, distribution, to enable greater incentives for persons who would want to contribute rooftop solar to the grid, to remove or lessen the duration of these licences from 20 years to below 10 and provide greater consumer protection,” Paulwell said.

Noting that the business community had “expressed grave concern about the high price of electricity” and a desire for “greater collaboration and involvement on their part”, he said the PNP was “committed to retuning to a vibrant Electricity Council”.

“We are disappointed that the Government has not continued the dynamic role of the Energy Council improving guidance and leadership and unification to get the price of electricity down. We discussed the issue of the special economic zone and the fact that we haven’t seen a lot of take-up by investors because of the high cost of electric energy. We want to democratise that and enable those operators in the special economic zone to be able to generate and distribute electricity within the zone and also to be able to wheel electricity from one location to another; that will encourage more investors in this area. The price of electricity will fall and we believe that that shouldn’t have to wait until 2027 but should be implemented now,” Paulwell stated.

He also pointed out to the PSOJ that during his last tenure as energy minister he presided over a 28.13 per cent reduction in average per kilowatt hour electricity cost.