My Thoughts on Technology and Jamaica: February 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

@myJPSonline Prepaid Power and reduction in Industrial Electricity Rates by July 2013 - The Last Exorcism Part II of Electricity Thieves



“It's an absolutely great move, we have been calling for this for a long time now so it is good that the Government has finally stepped in.....In life you have to crawl before you can walk so we welcome it.....It's something that we have been working with the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association and the (Jamaica) Chamber of Commerce on, and I want to talk to them. I don't think I have a comment on it right now”

Brian Pengelley, President of the JMA (Jamaica Manufacturers' Association) in comments with regards to Industrial Rate Reductions from JPS Co to The Jamaica Gleaner on Wednesday February 20, 2013

Prepaid Power is coming as promised in July 2013, to the delight of Prepaid Mobile phone addicts in Jamaica as noted in “Prepaid Power? - Gov't flirts with possibility of buying Electricity before actual use”, published Wednesday February 20, 2013, The Jamaica Gleaner.

This along with a reduction in Electricity Rates for Industrial Users come July 2013, a little after the start of the Hurricane season as promised by Minister of Science Technology, Energy and Mining, Phillip Paulwell in the article “Paulwell promises reduction in Electricity bills by July”, published Tuesday, February 19, 2013 | 3:05 PM, The Jamaica Observer is sure to be welcome news!


And clearly, from the quotes above, Brian Pengelley, President of the JMA (Jamaica Manufacturers' Association) welcomes this move as noted in “'An absolutely great move'”, published Wednesday February 20, 2013, by Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer, The Jamaica Gleaner, as it’s a long time coming.

It’s part of a raft of proposals by the JPS Co (Jamaica Public Service Company) that’s got the Ministry of Science Technology, Energy and Mining’s rubber-stamp approval:

1.      Prepaid Metering System aka Prepaid Power
2.      Incentive for customers who pay their bills on time, basically a treat
3.      Late-payment fee instead of disconnections
4.      Reductions in the order of 25% on rates for large businesses

The Public is mainly unsure as noted in “Consumers unsure about Prepaid Electricity”, published Tuesday February 26, 2013, by Anastasia Cunningham, News Coordinator, The Jamaica Gleaner, especially but secretly elated about, based on word-on-the-street. 


Areas of Jamaica that are especially plagued by Electricity theft, mainly Denham Town and Majesty Gardens aren’t too keen on a concept they can’t bypass as noted in “Denham Town, Majesty Gardens residents say system won't work”, published Tuesday February 26, 2013, The Jamaica Gleaner, so for them, I’d suggest a few simple ideas to JPS Co:

1.      Insulation installed on the Power Lines to prevent Throw-ups
2.      Mandated Digital Meters and Prepaid Power for users with a history of Electricity theft
3.      Cameras installed to watch areas know for illegal throw-ups with JPS Co NOC (Network Operation Center) doing the watchin’
4.      Further installation of the thus far successful RAMI (Residential Automated Metering Infrastructure) as described in “JPS says RAMI significantly reducing Electricity theft”, published Thursday, April 21, 2011, The Jamaica Observer

The RAMI system “trips” the Power in the area when Electricity usage exceeds a preset threshold due to illegal throw-ups, basically acting like a very large breaker. But as you may have noticed, Prepaid Electricity from JPS Co is coming as promised.

As promised?

Yes indeed, as it had been suggested by President and CEO of JPS Co Kelly Tomblin at The Jamaica Observer’s Monday Exchange dated Monday 12th November 2012 as recorded in the article “Time to top-up your Power”, published Wednesday, November 14, 2012 BY SHAMILLE SCOTT Business reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

The incentives or “treats”, again a concept borrowed from Telecoms Providers and as such may be welcome, and like Prepaid Power, is also borrowed from Telecoms Providers. This may be in the form of Prizes related to Electricity, such:

1.      Rewarding customer who pays their bill on time with 3 month’s free Electricity (wishful thinking!)
2.      Removal of their Monthly rental (more likely!)
3.      A free Energy Audit (very likely!)
4.      An Energy Saving Package that may include Energy saving products such as Fluorescent of LED (Light emitting Diode) Bulbs and even Solar Panels that you pay for (Bingo!)

Late fees instead of disconnection is also derived from Telecoms but reversed; we call this ETF (Early Termination Fees) for customers on a two (2) year contracts that wanna cut early. That system is not perfect, but it works for Telecoms Providers, as when you hit people in their pockets, they’re likely to think twice about wanting to switch.

JPS Co is being cost effective and proactive; this reduces the cost of sending out contractors to re-connect delinquent customers and most importantly gets JPS Co ready for competition as it sets up the mirror-image of ETF EXACTLY as it operates in the Telecoms World to prevent people from switching to competitors when a fully Liberalized Energy Environment comes online.


Now on to the Industrial users!

The reduction in Electricity rates is aimed mainly at encouraging increased investment and production from Industrial Manufacturers who are in the upper twenty (20) heavy users of Electricity and are switching to Alternative Energy.

The measures are as follows:

1.      25% Discount on the non-fuel tariff portions of their bills i.e. Power from Alternative Energy Sources
2.      Time of Use (TOU) discounts for using Electricity during Off-Peak hours, which is the same periods of time as in the Telecoms

Point of reference here. In the Telecoms World, as in the Power Engineering World, Peak and Off Peak hours are defined as thus:

1.      Peak is from 7:00am to 6:59pm the following day Monday to Friday
2.      Off peak being 7:00pm to 6:59am the following day, Monday to Friday
3.      Weekends is regarded as starting on Friday at 7:00pm and ending on the following Monday at 6:59am.

I say “switching” as that they only way they’ll get truly benefit from this reduction is if the GOJ increases Alternative Energy usage in Jamaica to at least 11% as noted in “In five months, Wigton saves Jamaica $229 million”, published Sunday September 25, 2011, The Jamaica Gleaner, which would constitute the bulk of the “non-fuel” tariffs.


But as President of the JMA Brian Pengelley says, you have to crawl before you can walk and these initiatives achieve just that! Stay tuned as I track these developments coming in July 2013 as JPS Co copies Telecom Providers as it performs The Last Exorcism Part II (2013) of Jamaicans who steal Electricity.

Sunday, February 24, 2013

How to win Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto as 3rd Jamaican wins JA$186 million Prize



“Currently, we do encourage persons to check their tickets, especially when we have a jackpot winner, through various print and electronic media. We would, however, like to remind our customers that tickets purchased can be checked at any of our over 1,000 agent locations islandwide”

Comments by SVL's Sponsorship and Public Relations Manager, Carlene Edwards on Tuesday February 5th 2013 in the Jamaica Gleaner

It’s begun to happen again.

People are afraid, it appears, to come forward to claim their Lottery Prizes. I’m speaking specifically of the Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto prize, which now appears to have yet another winner who won on Friday December 28th 2012 as stated in the article “Jamaican wins Super Lotto to take share of $311M Jackpot”, published Friday December 28, 2012 | 10:20 pm, The Jamaica Gleaner.

That person, who hails for Linstead, St. Catherine and has the honour of being the Third Jamaican to win the Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto, appears to be very coy about coming forward to collect their J$186.6 million prize as noted in the article “Super Lotto déjà vu”, published Tuesday | February 5, 2013, The Jamaica Gleaner.

This is now the Third Jamaican to be on the verge of not collecting their prize and now has ninety (90) days which ends on Thursday March 28th 2013 to collect their prize.

Again? Indeed, a Third Jamaican, it seems, is headed down this very same path.

I say again as a previous winner, the Second Jamaican to win the Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto and a native of Montego Bay, had won on Tuesday October 2nd 2012 a price totaling J$171,600,000  as reported in “$171m Super Lotto Jackpot unclaimed”, published Thursday, November 01, 2012 | 1:53 PM, The Jamaica Observer.

Based on the rules of the Game, that Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto winner had ninety (90) calendar days to collect their prize. In simple mathematical terms, this means that the Tuesday October 2nd 2012 had until Monday December 31st 2012 to collect their winnings as noted in “Super Lotto winner has month to collect prize”, published Friday | November 30, 2012 by Daviot Kelly, Staff Reporter, The Jamaica Gleaner.

They would have to make the sojourn to the Supreme Ventures Head office located on the 5th Floor of the Sagicor Building Located in New Kingston with a picture GOJ (Government of Jamaica) ID to collect their prize. Preferably wearing a very good disguise!

Otherwise, 50% reverts back to the Supreme Ventures, and 50% goes to the CHASE Fund to be used to fund Community Projects and other Local Government Initiatives. That Second Jamaican Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto winner failed to come forward and collect their prize after ninety (90) days.

Aww…to bad for you

Strictly speaking, the first such case of someone taking extraordinarily long to come forward after having won one of Supreme Ventures Limited Lottery games was that of a fifty four (54) year old Farmer Mr. S. Gayle from Manchester.  Mr. S. Gayle won the JA$240 million Supreme Ventures Limited Lotto prize, which he eventually claimed on April 1st 2010 as noted in the article “$240 million jackpot claimed”, published Thursday April 1st 2010, The Thursday Star.

I did a blog article explaining a possible reason why and made a simple suggestion: Blackberry or smartphone App or Text message Alert System for the Winner as noted in my blog article entitled Supreme Ventures and Mobile Phone Platform for gambling”.

But the first true Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto, the winner won a whopping JA$232.2 million (US$2.7 million) on Tuesday September 28th 2011AD as noted in the article “J'can hits Super Lotto jackpot!”, published Wednesday, September 28, 2011 The Jamaica Observer and the article “Super Lotto jackpot won in Jamaica”, published Thursday, September 29th, 2011, the Antigua Observer.

He too, was a late collector, as he also had (90) days to collect his prize, the end date of this time period falling on Tuesday December 26th 2011AD – Boxing Day as reported in “Super Lotto winner has 90 days to claim prize”, Published Thursday September 29, 2011, The Jamaica Gleaner. He eventually did, of course!

Again, like the last time, I also did a blog article on this obviously significant yet rare phenomenon of a Jamaican winning a seemingly impossibly difficult-to-win Lottery Game and not coming forward as chronicles in my blog article entitledSupreme Ventures Limited and the JA$232.2 million Super Lotto Winner - Pointer Sister's Automatic”.

Stats give a clearer explanation:

1st Jamaican Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto

1.      Won Super Lotto on Tuesday September 27th 2011 in Manchester
2.      The player won the split price amount of $232.2 million (US$ ) after buying a JA$150 ticket
3.      The winning numbers were 5, 11, 20, 22, 31 and Super Ball 8.

2nd Jamaican Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto

1.      Won Super Lotto on Tuesday October 2nd 2012 in Montego Bay, St. James
2.      The player won the split price amount of J$171,600,000 (US$1,920,000) after buying a JA$150 ticket
3.      The winning numbers are 15, 17, 24, 30, 31 and Super Ball 03

3rd Jamaican Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto

1.      Won Super Lotto on Friday December 28th 2012 in Linstead, St. Catherine
2.      The player won the split price amount of J$186.6 million (US$ ) after buying a JA$150 ticket
3.      The winning numbers are 01, 03, 05, 07, 16 and Super Ball 10

Clearly, all the winners are from the rural parts of Jamaica and won by playing for the split prize by buying a JA$150 Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto ticket. Mek sense; no Jamaican gonna spend JA$250 to buy a Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto ticket when playing for split prize at least guarantees over JA$20 million or Pick 4 is way easier to win

Not to mention a money maker for Supreme Ventures Limited as noted in “Pick 4 winnings hit J$1.4 billion in payouts”, published Sunday | December 23, 2012, The Jamaica Gleaner.

In fact it’s so popular that when I go to purchase Pick 4 Tickets (research into number patterns!) I always notice in the Betting Shops, the Pick 4 Betting slips are always in short supply. Cash Pot, once the favourite, is no longer popular with consumers and is actually a loss making game for Supreme Ventures Limited as noted in “Cash Pot eats into Supreme Ventures profit”, published Wednesday | March 14, 2012, The Jamaica Gleaner.

And yes, again, as before, I suggested a Blackberry or smartphone App or Text message Alert System for the Winner, with the ability to Play Lotto Games over Wireless 3G and eventually 4G Internet as distilled in my blog article entitledSupreme Ventures and Blackberry Gambling - Rihanna S&M on the Dark Side of the Moon”. Supreme Ventures Limited has in fact embarked upon the very same thing, but apparently has since abandoned it.

Now with an apparent raft of taxes, many of which are aimed at  Supreme Ventures Limited since the coming of the NDX (National Debt Exchange) as noted in my blog article entitled Jamaican Government to implement NDX, essentially JDX2 2.0 to get IMF Agreement - Tax Reform and FDI Investments Bullet to the Head and Oblivion”,  Supreme Ventures Limited may want to revisit this idea.

Especially as MNP (Mobile Number Portability) is on the horizon and may in fact make it easier to identify minors while rolling out Mobile Gaming as noted originally in my blog article entitled Supreme Ventures and Online Gambling - The Return of the King”. Ditto to the coming of Mobile Money by April 2013 as noted in my blog article entitledBOJ to regulate and approve Mobile Money Industry in Jamaica - JCCUL JCUES is the Man of Steel as GraceKennedy joins The Last Stand for a Cashless Society”, making Mobile Payments a reality

However on a more philosophical note, the Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto winner is either afraid of extortionists as speculated in my blog article entitled Supreme Ventures and Mobile Phone Platform for gambling” or may have accidentally left his/her winning Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto  ticket (really, it’s gotta be a man!) in his back pocket, with the clothes being washed and ticket reduced to shreds.

With so many things to occupy your mind, it’s easy to forget you bought a Supreme Ventures Limited Super Lotto, ticket, muchless which numbers you played or even to know which ones won. A situation equivalent to someone giving you a bulla with you name on it and you ate it without realizing it had you name on it as explained in the article Super Lotto, not so super”, published Sunday, June 06, 2010 By Alicia Roache Sunday Finance reporter, The Jamaica Observer.

Until he/she turns up, it’s all eyes on the Supreme Ventures Limited in New Kingston like Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013) Style up until that fateful day Thursday March 28th 2013.