JPS instructed to reverse fuel charge increase on September bills

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has been instructed to ensure that the fuel charge on customers' September electricity bills is reversed following the spike on August bills.

Minister of Energy Daryl Vaz, in a media release on Wednesday, said the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) has advised that it issued the instruction to the JPS to ensure the bills are reduced in a manner which will remedy the disproportionate increases that were imposed during the current billing cycle.

Vaz was reportedly updated in writing by the OUR Director General, Ansord Hewitt, on Tuesday. 

“The OUR directed JPS to do the following: reduce the fuel charge for the 2024 September bills by the difference in JPS' fuel cost in July over June and bills with zero consumption that do not show a corresponding zero money value should be reissued,” the OUR director general informed Minister Vaz.

Vaz said the director general indicated that the directive is tantamount to a reversal of the current hefty increases.

"Please note that the directive with respect to the September bill is intended to have the same effect as what would have resulted from a reversal of the charge and reissuance of bills except that it is a less complex process and credit will show up on September bills", the OUR advised Vaz.

Vaz said he will be monitoring the process closely to ensure the directive is carried out.

Meanwhile, the energy minister said he is also awaiting word from the OUR on its investigation into the current JPS billing cycle and has urged a comprehensive but expeditious completion of the probe.

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