Residents of the Corporate Area community of Olympic Way are demanding answers from the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) after receiving what they described as extraordinarily high electricity bills.
The residents took to the streets on Monday, armed with their electricity bills.
One resident said he received a bill of J$102,000.
The residents have blamed the increase on a new metering system installed by the company.
“Because our light bill is usually J$15,000 before the new system. So I don’t know what’s the problem with the box they are putting up. But the bills are more than our food bill, more than our rent and we cannot pay it,” said Daphne Carter-Brown, a resident of Olympic Way.
According to the residents, they have visited JPS offices where they were instructed to get an electrician to check their wiring.
They say the JPS also promised to investigate their concerns however one week later nothing has been done.
The residents say they willing to pay for the electricity used, but believe they are being overcharged.
In response, the JPS says it's aware of the residents' concerns.
Corporate Communications Manager, Winsome Callum, explained that the company has been talking to the residents and a meeting is scheduled for this week.
She said the residents were asked to provide a list of those who have been affected and what the JPS found is that since converting to the new system the residents have received two bills.
Callum explained that the first bill did not cover the full billing cycle while the second bill was for a full cycle hence the difference in the amount which may seem exorbitant.
She said in the upcoming meeting, the JPS will guide residents on how to better manage their bills.
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