OUR says it commenced JPS probe before request from Vaz
Published:Thursday | August 22, 2024 | 12:12 AMKimone Francis/Senior Staff Reporter
The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) says it had initiated an investigation of the Jamaica Public Service’s (JPS) billing practices before a request from Energy Minister Daryl Vaz as the entity draws flak over its response to July’s high charges from the power company.
Declaring that the minister “was well within his rights” to make such a request, the body, established by an Act of Parliament in 1995 to regulate the operations of utility companies, said it was on the move.
“It must be noted that even before receiving the minister’s request, the OUR had already taken the decision to investigate the emerging complaints and to seek specific information from JPS regarding its most recently issued bills,” OUR said in an emailed response to The Gleaner.
Serious concerns
Yesterday, Vaz said the high electricity bills received by customers from the JPS, following the passage of Hurricane Beryl, have rightfully attracted scrutiny and raised questions and serious concerns from the Government.
He questioned the level of oversight that is being provided by the OUR, suggesting that the high bills should have raised the antenna of the regulatory body.
Vaz pointed to a customer from St Elizabeth, one of the hardest-hit parishes by Beryl, who, he said, had power for only six days out of the current billing cycle. These days were before the passage of Beryl.
He said power was not restored to the customer’s residence until two days after the end of the billing cycle.
He said it was concerning to know that the customer was given a bill totalling $108,000.
“The Government is resolute that the current situation cannot stand. I have made the position clear to the leadership of the JPS and will be making recommendations to the Cabinet for changes to be made in respect to the regulator,” said Vaz.
He said based on the circumstances, the Government has been left with no choice but to pursue a special audit of investigation into JPS bills published in the aftermath of the hurricane.
Vaz said the country may be facing more risks of natural disasters in the future, and moving forward, it is unacceptable to have a regulator “conducting itself in a manner which has raised valid concerns in the public that it is not vigilant enough to hold the utility to account”.
He said the OUR allowed the JPS to pass through a 30 per cent increase in rates in the aftermath of a hurricane while having a US$50-million disaster fund in reserve.
“This should never happen again, and I am of the view that the lethargic response of the OUR to the JPS’ abysmal handling of the Beryl issue has made it patently clear that the OUR will have to be reconstituted to ensure that it operates in a more effective and efficient manner and in a way which ultimately protects the people of Jamaica,” said Vaz.
“Everything that I’ve seen since becoming minister is all geared towards the JPS, and nothing is in there for the customers and the suffering people of Jamaica. There has to be equity.”