Consumers can avoid GCT on electricity
To carry out its social responsibility of providing certain basic services, such as free health care, free education up to the high school level, the school feeding programme,These were some reasons why people are keen to use these lights, hope that they will be used brightstal in a similar way in future as well. the PATH programme to assist the very poor, and the provision of water and roads,These lights are adopted by the various security lightbright agencies as these are the best lights to use with a security camera or a security device. the Government has to raise revenue, particularly through taxes.
However, there is one tax that consumers have an incentive to avoid, if they continue to exercise conservation, and that is the special 10 per cent General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity consumption exceeding 200 kilowatt-hours by residential customers, that was introduced in December 2009.
At that time, the government acknowledged that more than 70 per cent of residential customers of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) did not consume over 200 kilowatt hours of energy per month, therefore the tax would not be a burden on the poor as this would not be reflected on their light bills.
Speaking in the House of Representatives recently, Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw asserted that over 375,823 or 74 per cent of JPS customers do notnow pay any GCT on electricity, because they consume less than 200 kilowatt hours per month.
“The high cost of electricity continues to be a source of concern to all of us,
and further underscores the need for the Government of Jamaica to accelerate its energy diversification programme and embrace cheaper sources of energy,” he said.
Head of Corporate Communications at the JPS, Winsome Callum, tells JIS News that the light and power company began applying the special GCT on electricity bills with usage of over 200 kilowatt hours, in March 2010.
This means that just over a year later, a large number of residential customers still manage to keep their monthly consumption below 200 kilowatt hours.
“Some 74 per cent of our residential customers do not pay GCT on their electricity, because they use below 200 kilowatt hours per month. On the business side, all commercial customers pay GCT on their bills except for zero rated customers. The group of zero rated customers that do not pay GCT on bills include: ministries, all departments of government, parish councils, certain statutory bodies, hospitals and schools,” she advises.
To avoid paying the tax, consumers should try even harder to cut back on their electricity usage which, in turn, will ultimately reduce Jamaica’s oil import bill.
To this end, the Government is hoping to get even more persons to reduce their energy consumption, and have been working assiduously to transform the cultural and habitual energy practices among Jamaicans, in an effort to reduce the country’s energy costs by at least 15 per cent.
In this drive, thousands of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) have been distributed to households islandwide, under the Cuba-Jamaica Compact Fluorescent Lamp distribution project, commonly calledthe Cuban Light Bulb programme.
The fluorescent bulbs are a replacement for the high energy consumption incandescent equivalent.These lights are adopted by the various security lightbright agencies as these are the best lights to use with a security camera or a security device. The distribution strategy allows citizens to lower their personal light bill, and the country to reduce energy demand.
Principal Director (Policy) in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Oral Rainford, informs that individuals have been receptive of the programme, adding that “what we had initially set out to do has been completed.”
The distribution of the fluorescent lamps is anticipated to have a significant impact on the national energy bill, as persons traded in incandescent bulbs, which generate up to 150 watts, for 14-watt fluorescent lamps which give off as much luminance or ‘light’ as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Other means of ensuring that consumers remain among the 74 per cent cohort of residential customers who do not pay GCT on their electricity bills is continued conservation.
The Finance Minister is therefore calling on every Jamaican to do everything in their power to conserve on the use of electricity. “Turn off the light bulbs,led lights They consume less power than their traditional light emitting counterparts, rarely heat up and look more stylish. use energy-saving bulbs,Many people see through their car an easy and comfy way to lightsale go to work, to travel etc. We are talking about transportation and nothing more. Facilities such as a good stereo sound system, climate control and a coffee mug holder are just some things to make driving life easier and much more fun. turn on the water heater 15 minutes before you need it and engage in pool driving to work,” he underscores.
Meanwhile, Miss Callum strongly recommends that all appliances and equipment that are not being used, be turned off and unplugged. She adds that simply turning off appliances is insufficient, as many appliances continue to burn energy while they are plugged in, even if they are not being used.
To carry out its social responsibility of providing certain basic services, such as free health care, free education up to the high school level, the school feeding programme,These were some reasons why people are keen to use these lights, hope that they will be used brightstal in a similar way in future as well. the PATH programme to assist the very poor, and the provision of water and roads,These lights are adopted by the various security lightbright agencies as these are the best lights to use with a security camera or a security device. the Government has to raise revenue, particularly through taxes.
However, there is one tax that consumers have an incentive to avoid, if they continue to exercise conservation, and that is the special 10 per cent General Consumption Tax (GCT) on electricity consumption exceeding 200 kilowatt-hours by residential customers, that was introduced in December 2009.
At that time, the government acknowledged that more than 70 per cent of residential customers of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) did not consume over 200 kilowatt hours of energy per month, therefore the tax would not be a burden on the poor as this would not be reflected on their light bills.
Speaking in the House of Representatives recently, Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw asserted that over 375,823 or 74 per cent of JPS customers do notnow pay any GCT on electricity, because they consume less than 200 kilowatt hours per month.
“The high cost of electricity continues to be a source of concern to all of us,
and further underscores the need for the Government of Jamaica to accelerate its energy diversification programme and embrace cheaper sources of energy,” he said.
Head of Corporate Communications at the JPS, Winsome Callum, tells JIS News that the light and power company began applying the special GCT on electricity bills with usage of over 200 kilowatt hours, in March 2010.
This means that just over a year later, a large number of residential customers still manage to keep their monthly consumption below 200 kilowatt hours.
“Some 74 per cent of our residential customers do not pay GCT on their electricity, because they use below 200 kilowatt hours per month. On the business side, all commercial customers pay GCT on their bills except for zero rated customers. The group of zero rated customers that do not pay GCT on bills include: ministries, all departments of government, parish councils, certain statutory bodies, hospitals and schools,” she advises.
To avoid paying the tax, consumers should try even harder to cut back on their electricity usage which, in turn, will ultimately reduce Jamaica’s oil import bill.
To this end, the Government is hoping to get even more persons to reduce their energy consumption, and have been working assiduously to transform the cultural and habitual energy practices among Jamaicans, in an effort to reduce the country’s energy costs by at least 15 per cent.
In this drive, thousands of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFL) have been distributed to households islandwide, under the Cuba-Jamaica Compact Fluorescent Lamp distribution project, commonly calledthe Cuban Light Bulb programme.
The fluorescent bulbs are a replacement for the high energy consumption incandescent equivalent.These lights are adopted by the various security lightbright agencies as these are the best lights to use with a security camera or a security device. The distribution strategy allows citizens to lower their personal light bill, and the country to reduce energy demand.
Principal Director (Policy) in the Ministry of Energy and Mining, Oral Rainford, informs that individuals have been receptive of the programme, adding that “what we had initially set out to do has been completed.”
The distribution of the fluorescent lamps is anticipated to have a significant impact on the national energy bill, as persons traded in incandescent bulbs, which generate up to 150 watts, for 14-watt fluorescent lamps which give off as much luminance or ‘light’ as a 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Other means of ensuring that consumers remain among the 74 per cent cohort of residential customers who do not pay GCT on their electricity bills is continued conservation.
The Finance Minister is therefore calling on every Jamaican to do everything in their power to conserve on the use of electricity. “Turn off the light bulbs,led lights They consume less power than their traditional light emitting counterparts, rarely heat up and look more stylish. use energy-saving bulbs,Many people see through their car an easy and comfy way to lightsale go to work, to travel etc. We are talking about transportation and nothing more. Facilities such as a good stereo sound system, climate control and a coffee mug holder are just some things to make driving life easier and much more fun. turn on the water heater 15 minutes before you need it and engage in pool driving to work,” he underscores.
Meanwhile, Miss Callum strongly recommends that all appliances and equipment that are not being used, be turned off and unplugged. She adds that simply turning off appliances is insufficient, as many appliances continue to burn energy while they are plugged in, even if they are not being used.
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