The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has granted the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) an inflation adjustment.

The decision belies the pronouncements made by the Energy Minister earlier this week that JPS customers could be seeing a reduction in electricity bills.

It was revealed last week that the JPS was seeking an inflation related increase in electricity rates from the OUR.

James Robertson, Energy Minister, met with business interests and suggested that there may actually be a decrease in non fuel electricity rates.

But that bold pronouncement now seems hollow.

The JPS had applied for a 4.81% increase in non-fuel costs of electricity bills but the OUR granted the light and power company a 4.79% increase.

For residential customers, that means an overall increase of just under 2% on electricity bills.

Businesses will see rate increases ranging from just over 1% to almost 3%.

The increases take effect on June 18.