The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) says the devaluation of the Jamaican dollar and the company’s switch to more expensive fuel are the main reasons for a spike in customers’ utility bills this month.

There have been numerous complaints from customers about the massive increase in their light bills compared to previous months.

These complaints have resulted in calls for an investigation of the company’s billing exercise.

JPS however, has sought to justify the high bills.

Speaking with IRIE FM News, JPS’ Director of Corporate Communications, Winsome Callum said there are 2 main components to the bills: the energy charges set by the Office of Utilities Regulation and the other charges, including the fuel charge, exchange rate and customer’s usage.

Ms. Callum said following Hurricane Beryl’s passage on July 3, the company had to switch to a more expensive fuel.

She said as a result, customers are paying more for the fuel charge component of the bill.

Ms. Callum said following Beryl’s passage, there was no access to renewables which deepened the dependence on the expensive fuel.

She added that a devaluation of the Jamaican dollar, resulted in the billing exchange rate increasing.

Ms. Callum noted that as a result, customers may have received higher bills, even if their electricity consumption remained unchanged.