OUR breaks silence amid calls for it to take action against JPS

By Nakinskie Robinson   

 

Director-General of the Office of the Utilities Regulations, Ansord Hewitt, has sought to clarify the authority's role in regulating utility companies amid public furore about delayed service restoration in sections of the island post Hurricane Beryl.

 

Mr. Hewitt explained that the OUR has the power to direct, investigate, conduct inquiries, request maintenance plans and approve and monitor quality standards for the Jamaica Public Service Company via its licensing, the OUR Act and the Electricity Act.

 

He said some of the actions taken by the light and power company are a direct result of engagements between both entities. 

 

"We will also be issuing JPS with specific directives with respect to the remaining timelines with which we expect strict compliance. We're monitoring the restoration of all utilities and doing ad hoc verification and surveillance. Ultimately as well, there's an audit function for conformity."

 

"We have been careful to manage the regulatory reporting burden we impose on the utilities so as not to impact restoration efforts which takes priority," he added, noting that an examination of reports submitted by JPS and the application of Q-factor penalties indicated network issues that required resolution. He said JPS has committed to resolving them. 

 

Mr. Hewitt, who was speaking at Wednesday's post Cabinet press briefing, also outlined provisions for sanctioning due to network issues by JPS. 

 

"There are also other powers of sanctions that require proceedings through the court and judicial process. But this is clearly not the kind of provisions that are available to you in emergencies because they tend to be time consuming. There is also legislative provision for the imposition of a fixed penalty without going to court. And this is actually in train and I have the assurance from the minister that these are going to be approved in short order," he said.

 

JPS has requested that sanctions be waived for any breaches of its guaranteed standards.

 

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz has been challenging the OUR to take action against JPS for the delay in restoring electricity after public criticisms that the government was not doing enough to hold the utility company accountable.