Energy Minister 'disturbed' as JPS customers complain of spike in electricity bills

By Prince Moore    

 

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz says he is disturbed by complaints from customers of the Jamaica Public Service Company about an unusual and major spike in electricity bills sent to them by the company during the current billing cycle.

 

Minister Vaz says he will on Monday formally write to the leadership of the independent regulatory body, the Office of Utilities Regulation, insisting on an investigation into multiple complaints about the issue.

 

The Energy Minister is also demanding an explanation from JPS for the major spike in electricity bills of many of its customers during the current billing cycle.

 

Arguing that higher than normal bills has been a repeated complaint by JPS customers for years, Mr. Vaz said the interruption in power supply caused by Hurricane Beryl has enabled people to finally "judge and see exactly what is taking place with their bill". 

 

"I know of one situation where a community centre in St. Elizabeth was completely destroyed. The billing cycle shows that they had power two days before Beryl, which was a start of the billing cycle, and they have not had power since. And they have a bill for J$71,000, which is absolutely impossible. So that one I can speak to without fear of contradiction," he said, urging the new JPS president "deal with this matter". 

 

"I am hoping that JPS can come with a good explanation to explain their way out of this. But as they say, out of adversity comes opportunity. And I can tell you, this is an opportunity to make sure that we do a proper investigation into the billing cycle of JPS because there are glaring discrepancies in these bills," he insisted.

 

The minister, who called the situation unacceptable, said he is hoping the OUR immediately seeks to assist the government's efforts to ensure just and fair treatment of the Jamaican people.