KINGSTON, Jamaica —Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) customers will see a seven per cent rise in their December bills, covering November’s electricity consumption, the utility and regulator said on Monday.

The increase stems from higher generation costs after Hurricane Melissa disrupted the natural gas supply, forcing JPS to use more expensive fuel. The hurricane also reduced electricity sales by approximately 30 per cent, which further pushed up the Fuel and Independent Power Producer (IPP) charges.

To limit the immediate impact on consumers, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) approved a plan to defer a portion of the increased costs. JPS will recover these deferred amounts gradually over coming months.

For an average residential customer using 165 kWh per month, the adjustment adds approximately $655 to a previous bill of about $9,000.

The OUR said electricity generation costs and consumption levels could take up to six months to stabilise following the storm. It has directed JPS to consult with the regulator before applying further adjustments to fuel and IPP charges over that period.

The objective, the OUR said, is to ensure a gradual recovery of costs while preventing sudden bill increases for customers.