Oil prices have droped significantly over the past few months and JPS is still demanding major increases in light bills. First, they blame the rise in murder and poverty, then they say Jamaica was too dependent on foreign oil, and now they're saying they won't be able to do any upgrades of their facilities if they're not granted a rate hike.

The last time they justified their increase was because of rising oil prices. There wasn't any mention of infrastructure upgrades or crime and poverty, so now they come up with this gibberish about not being able to upgrade their facilities.

JPS is now talking about petcoke energy. Jamaicans, let me share with you the dangers of this toxic, solidified sludge left behind after oil refineries get gasolene, kerosene, jet fuel, and whatever else they can from crude.

Special transportation

Petroleum coke contains many more toxic heavy metals than coal, presenting special transportation, storage, and water run-off problems. It emits much more sulphur and nitrous oxides than coal when burned, presenting new air-pollution control problems. It generates highly toxic ash, presenting still more transportation and burial problems, to the tune of about 180 semi-truckloads a day.

Petroleum coke is an environmentally challenging fuel in terms of its low volatile content, high sulphur and nitrogen content, which give rise to undesirable emission characteristics.

The OUR (Office of Utilities Regulation) should commission an independent energy-auditing firm and have it go through the entire operations of JPS, then make public its findings and allow the Jamaican people and the Parliament to debate the increase.

I am, etc.,

Stewart Young

stewartyoung11@hotmail.com

Florida, USA