KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says customers are likely to see higher fuel charges on their electricity bill in the coming months due to the impact of the ongoing war in the Middle East on oil prices.

“Just like petrol prices at the pump, the fuel portion of your bill changes based on real, current market prices. When fuel costs go up, the fuel charge on your bill increases; when they go down, it decreases,” JPS advised customers in a message on Wednesday.

The company said electricity in Jamaica is largely generated using fuel from the global market. It pointed out that about 70 per cent of electricity is generated using liquified natural gas (LNG) and 20 per cent comes from heavy fuel and diesel.

JPS said when fuel prices rise internationally, it directly affects the cost of producing electricity locally.

“Because of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, global supply has been disrupted, causing fuel prices to increase significantly. For example, oil prices have risen from about US$60 per barrel in December 2025 to near US$100 so far in March 2026,” JPS explained.

The company further said it does not profit from fuel charges and noted that these costs are passed directly from suppliers to customers. Likewise, JPS said all charges are reviewed and approved by the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR).

Meanwhile, the company said it is actively working with the OUR to introduce a fuel rate stabilisation mechanism to reduce sharp month-to-month bill fluctuations, make electricity costs more predictable and provide greater stability during times like these.