Are estimated light bills fair?
Published:Saturday | July 27, 2024 | 12:07 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
What could possibly have motivated the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) to send estimated bills to customers who were without light and power in the aftermath of the destructive Category 4 Hurricane Beryl?
It’s within JPS’ legal rights to send estimated bills, and there is a certain contractual clause that protects the power company in the event of catastrophic events such as hurricanes. But who will protect and safeguard the rights of customers? Is it the OUR, local political representatives, or the Government?
Was the JPS’ decision fair or financially oppressive?
Estimated bills are usually calculated as an average of customers’ three last bills. But Hurricane Beryl ravaged thousands of customers who are still without light and power. What moral justification could there ever be to charge customers for any service that they have not been receiving? Is it possible the JPS sent estimated bills because they knew thousands were without power and actual meter readings would reflect far less consumption and hence less revenues for the JPS?
If my understanding is correct, the JPS is covered by insurance for catastrophic events, unlike many who lost roofs, houses and even their livelihoods. Those adversely affected and still suffering immensely from lack of power supply should never ever be seen as mere percentages because they are real people who were truly badly battered by Beryl.
Imagine what it must be like for a mother with three little children, including an infant of six months who is being breastfed, whose house was totally destroyed. She was knocked to the ground by Beryl, but it could appear that the JPS wanted her to stay down. Her immediate neighbours lost their roof. They are a chicken farmer and cabinet maker who cannot restart and earn without power supply. The community minimart operator who previously paid, on average, fifty thousand dollars monthly to JPS, to date has incurred additional expenses of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in only three weeks by operating a generator to provide much-needed service and stay in business.
I said imagine, but these are real stories of devastation by Beryl. It’s heart wrenching. Thousands are still without power from the JPS but receiving estimated bills that are in some instances higher than usual.
Given these harsh realities, it is not facetious but quite pertinent to ask: Is this decision heartless, JPS?
DAIVE FACEY