Gov't to outline measures to combat electricity theft in next budget

By Racquel Porter 

   

The government is expected to make provisions for anti-electricity theft measures in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year, to stem illegal extraction of power from JPS.

 

In 2023, the JPS lost just over $40.3 billion to electricity theft.

 

That same year customers were hit with an almost one per cent increase in their bills to cover the loss.

 

Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon, Minister Daryl Vaz supported Opposition Spokesman on Energy Phillip Paulwell's comment that the government has a role to play in minimising cost to consumers.

 

Minister Vaz said a Cabinet submission is being finalised.

 

"In the upcoming budget debate that is going to be a key part of the Minister of Finance and the Prime Minister's budget presentations because it's something that we have met, spoken about, but more importantly, it requires a commitment of the government to invest a significant amount of money to really tackle it in a comprehensive, holistic way, which no government in my time and before has ever been prepared to do," he said, admitting that the government has been "putting bandaids over a sore rather than dealing with the sore and getting it better once and for all". 

 

 So what we are doing at this point we're putting bandaids over a sore rather than dealing with the sore and getting it better once and for all. So I can say confidently that based on the discussions that I have been having both from previous minister, then Clarke to current Minister Williams.

 

But Mr. Paulwell wants some of the measures that have been on the table since 2021, discussed. 

 

"Minister, you are aware that in April 2021, there was a private member's motion that has been on the table for us to debate this issue and with some clear recommendations. Based on all the papers that we have been through, I put forward this and I still believe that there is time before the budget debate for us to deal with some of these specific recommendations because these are things that have worked in other countries," he suggested. 

 

Mr. Paulwell questioned what proportion of the $40 billion loss to elecricity theft was being passed to consumers.

 

Minister Vaz, while not able to give an exact figure, said he suspected it is "substantial".