JPS Rates to Jump Again in 2026 – Brace Yourselves, Jamaica
JPS Rates to Jump Again in 2026 – Brace Yourselves, Jamaica
If you thought your electricity bill was high in 2025, just wait till 2026. The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has confirmed that rates will go up again come January 1, 2026, and it’s not going to be a small increase. According to a statement from JPS on Tuesday, the new base rate will move from the current $0.21 US per kilowatt-hour to $0.23 US per kilowatt-hour, a jump of nearly 10%. That’s on top of the fuel and IPP charges that already send bills soaring every month.
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This increase is tied to JPS’s regular rate review with the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), which happens every few years. OUR Director General, Mr. Ansord Hewitt, said in a press release that the new rate reflects higher costs for natural gas and maintenance of the grid. “We understand the pressure on consumers, but the cost of generating electricity in Jamaica simply went up. JPS has to recover those costs,” Hewitt said. The OUR approved the new rate after months of public hearings and technical meetings.
But for everyday Jamaicans, this news hits hard. Miss Patricia Gordon, a shopkeeper on King Street in downtown Kingston, told HowJamaica.com, “Mi bill already high, and now dem waan more? Mi have to run mi shop on generator when JPS cut off light, and that alone cost me $15,000 a week. This new rate ago mash me up.” Miss Gordon runs a small grocery and says she’s already cutting back on buying stock to pay her JPS bill. “Mi have to choose between paying light and buying food fi mi family. It’s not right.”
The increase will affect everyone—households, businesses, and schools. The Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA) has already raised concerns, saying high energy costs hurt local production and make it harder to compete with imports. JMEA President Mr. John Mahfood said in a radio interview that the rate hike could push some small factories out of business. “We need cheaper energy, not more expensive. This is a step backward,” he said.
JPS, however, points out that Jamaica’s electricity rates are still among the highest in the Caribbean, but they say they’re working on bringing in more renewable energy to lower costs in the long run. A company spokesperson said, “We are investing in solar and wind projects, but those take time. For now, we have to manage the existing system.”
What can you do? Start by checking your appliances. Old refrigerators, AC units, and water heaters eat up power. Also, look into installing solar panels or joining a community solar project—some programs offer financing with no upfront cost. And don’t forget to unplug devices when not in use. Every kilowatt-hour saved is money in your pocket.
