Holness Pledges Overhaul of Energy Sector to Cut Electricity Costs

Kingston, Jamaica, 18 June 2026

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness has pledged to reshape Jamaica’s electricity sector to bring down power bills, saying the Government will press for real cost reductions in talks with the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) over a new licence while stepping up investment in solar and other renewables.

Dr Holness was speaking on 13 June at the launch of Sutherland Jamaica’s renewable energy project at the company’s Red Hills Road head office in Kingston.

The cost gap

The Prime Minister said Jamaica’s electricity is among the most expensive in the world because the island depends heavily on imported fuel. He noted that in March 2026 the JPS rate alone stood at $33 per kilowatt hour, rising to about $42 once other charges are added to the final bill. The fuel charge, he added, moves with global oil prices.

By contrast, he said, utility-scale solar and onshore wind have become far cheaper worldwide, and battery storage costs have dropped sharply over the past decade.

Dr Holness warned that expensive electricity feeds through to the price of food, water, healthcare, construction, transport and jobs, so that the whole country bears the cost.

Plans for the grid

Peak national demand usually sits between 650 and 700 megawatts, he said. The Government wants to welcome self-generation and solar, but also to update the grid, the licence, the tariff structure and the rules governing transmission so the system stays fair and orderly. He said the Government intends to plan not only for current demand but for new industries it hopes to attract.

A private-sector signal

Sutherland’s project covers three of its five sites, at Red Hills Road, Kingsland and Portmore. Dr Holness said the investment will cut the company’s energy costs, reduce its carbon footprint and improve resilience, describing it as a sign that the economics of electricity have shifted.

What it means for households

Electricity is one of the biggest monthly bills for Jamaican homeowners and renters. The outcome of the JPS licence talks could shape tariffs for years, although no specific reductions have yet been announced.

For those considering rooftop solar, the Prime Minister’s comments suggest official support for self-generation, but the rules for connecting to the grid are also set to change. Anyone planning an installation should check current requirements before committing.

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