Effective today, customers of Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) can apply for licences to sell their excess electricity generated from renewable energy sources to the national grid.

The decision was made following a meeting between the Ministry of Science Energy & Technology, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and JPS last week.

According to portfolio Minister, Dr Andrew Wheatley, the OUR will now resume accepting applications for net billing under similar terms as the previously-concluded net billing pilot project until the details of a permanent programme are finalized.

“The persons already connected to the grid for these other purposes, are being encouraged to regularise their status by making the relevant application for a licence to the OUR within a six-month amnesty period, commencing on Monday, April 11, 2016”, the Energy Minister said.

The move is an effort by the ministry to continue to strengthen the development of the renewable energy sector in accordance with the National Energy Policy.

The two (2) year pilot programme was extended to May 2015, as the system peak demand threshold for net billing was not met. As at March 2015, 351 applications were received, 311 of which were granted licences.

The net billing pilot programme was given the legislative underpinning in the Electricity Act, 2015 and based on the review of the pilot, undertaken by the OUR with the support of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, several other improvements arising from the recommendations will be enshrined in regulations.