Some of your readers have commented on the huge decreases in the world price of crude oil and the relatively small changes in the price of petrol at our pumps, whereas the petrol prices at the pumps in the United States have dropped significantly.

I recently received my bill for January from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) company and I was delighted to find that the "fuel & IPP charge" this month is $8,655 per kilowatt-hour. Earlier bills show that this charge has dropped as follows:

2008

August $20,323

September $18,573

October $18,573

November $13,226

December $12,168

January 2009 $8,655

This trend is closer to that of the world oil prices. Well done, JPS! At the same time, through your columns, I would like to ask the Office of Utilities Regulation to explain to us why we are not paying much less at the pumps for petrol.

Is it something to do with our deal with Venezuela? If so, would this not apply to the JPS also? Is there a secret tax increase being added to our petrol to compensate for the loss of budget revenue, current and expected, arising from the world recession?

Whatever it is, I think we should be told.

I am, etc.,

PUZZLED MOTORIST

Kingston 6