JPS has given some of its customers a jump-start in energy efficiency practices for 2015 with the distribution of free energy-efficient (fluorescent) light bulbs in selected parishes.

The three locations which were earmarked for distribution were St Thomas, Hanover and St Mary, as they do not have JPS eStores from which they can easily access energy-efficient products.

In St Thomas, hundreds of light bulbs were distributed to residents of the Springfield community, which has recently benefited from the installation of the Residential Advanced Metering Infrastructure.

unhelpful practices

"Lighting can account for roughly 20 per cent of your electricity bill," explained parish manager for St Thomas, Oswald Smiley, "so this is one way of assisting our customers to move away from unhelpful practices and begin the development of an energy-efficiency consciousness."

In Hanover, the bulbs were distributed to hundreds of customers carrying out transactions at the customer service office in Lucea. Parish Manager Antoinette Burton-Steer noted that "with fluorescent bulbs exhibiting efficiency of four times that of incandescent bulbs, customers have been given a jump-start on which to build their domestic energy-efficiency programme."

In St Mary, where bulbs are still being distributed to customers, the reception has been positive. "Not only are customers beginning to see a decline in their bills due to the lowering of fuel costs on the world market, but now they are being reminded that they have the power to take down those bills even further," enthused Parish Manager Abdon Campbell.

JPS has passed on a reduction in fuel charges to customers over the last three months, resulting in a decline in bills of approximately 18 per cent, given that energy consumption remains constant.