4 Main Challenges Facing Jamaica

[ljbd]

An article in today's Gleaner stated that there are four main challenges facing Jamaica. Food security,An economic downturn,a high crime rate and high energy costs. I have always been amazed at the high price of energy in Jamaica. My Jamaican lady friend has a very small house and pays almost $100.00 US a month. Very expensive compared to what i am used to in the NE US. I have been traveling to Jamaica since 1969 and have wondered why there is so little,if any. utilization of wind and solar creating energy. It seems like a no brainer.

[Mike_D]

The high cost of electricity in Jamaica is likely due to theft. The good folks that do pay their current bill, are covering for the people that don't.

[jsteil]

I read the article. I think the issue is not energy, but politics. Thee is a high cost because 90% of the energy is purchased outside Jamaica and requires a conversion of currency for them to purchase it. Also there is a monopoly on energy in Jamaica. With competition prices will go down.

[Bnewb]

The high cost of electricity in Jamaica is likely due to theft. The good folks that do pay their current bill, are covering for the people that don't.

Though thieving does happen...a lot of people have been criminally charged here lately...the high cost is due to the oil that is used to generate it.

No way do we run a/c in our house...toooo expensive...

[gerryg123]

Just curious, if you were to run AC medium cold pretty much all the time, how much would it cost per month?

[Rob]

Just curious, if you were to run AC medium cold pretty much all the time, how much would it cost per month?

Gerry,

It depends on the efficiency of the AC unit itself, and the size of area you are trying to cool. For a typical hotel room, figure on about $10us a day - and that is if you dont leave the doors or windows open....

[Mike_D]

Though thieving does happen...a lot of people have been criminally charged here lately...the high cost is due to the oil that is used to generate it.

Good to know. I have seen the billboard campaign around Jamaica warning about criminal charges for electricity theft. I'm glad it's working.

Aside from nuclear, (which is perennially opposed in JA - and for very good reason) renewable energy may be the best option for Jamaica. However, as Ljbd said, there is currently very little utilization of wind and solar resources. I think the major drawback is that the initial set-up cost is high and once implemented, they still do not eliminate the need for fossil fuel electricity.

[Bnewb]

Mike D...another issue...
there have been attempts at wind power down here but with the sea spray it becomes prohibitive because of the maintenance...

[ljbd]

Mike D...another issue...
there have been attempts at wind power down here but with the sea spray it becomes prohibitive because of the maintenance...

My gut feeling is that there is and has been oppostion and stonewalling politics at work to maintain the current monoply and thus making it extremely difficult for an alternate energy source to get a foothold.

[hille141]

Just curious, if you were to run AC medium cold pretty much all the time, how much would it cost per month?

Assuming it runs all the time. 1.5 kW would be your typical window air conditioner.

1.5 kW x 24 hours/day x 30 days/month x $22/kWh = $23,760 JMD per month (approx $224 USD per month)