JPS to audit billing system

THE board of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), apparently bowing to public pressure, yesterday instructed the light and power company to immediately contract the services of an independent external auditor to undertake an audit into the meter replacement programme and the billing of customers. "A key focus of the audit will be the complaints by some of our valued customers that, upon the installation of new meters, their bills have substantially increased without any justification," the JPS said in an afternoon statement. It promised that the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) will be kept abreast of the progress of the audit and the findings.The light and power company did not name the entity that will be engaged to conduct the audit, nor did it state a timeline for the completion of the billing and meter-replacement audit. The JPS board, at the same time, said it would continue to work with the company's management to fast-track several measures aimed at ensuring a reduction in electricity prices and an improvement in customer service. Several JPS customers, who have received new meters, are among thousands of persons protesting against what they have cited as exorbitant electricity bills, prompting Energy Minister Clive Mullings to this week announce Government's intention to establish a commission of enquiry into the company's billing system.The statement from the JPS came as electricity consumers, including political interests as well as civil society activists, used much of yesterday to fine-tune plans to mount protests, beginning today, against the country's main provider of electricity service.

 

A social media campaign, via Facebook and BlackBerry messenger, began Tuesday night encouraging Jamaicans to wear black clothing today as a form of protest against the bloated bills and poor customer service at the light and power company. The campaign has received support from several stakeholders, including Government Senator Dennis Meadows; Opposition spokesman on energy, Philip Paulwell; the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association; and the Jamaica Manufacturers' Association. Those joining the campaign included the People's National Party's Youth Organisation (PNPYO); the New Nation Coalition (NNC), led by Betty-Ann Blaine; and Generation 2000, the young professional affiliate of the ruling Jamaica Labour Party. The PNPYO, in addition to supporting the wearing of black today, plans to march to the Ruthven Road, Kingston, office of the JPS.

The NNC, meanwhile, called on Jamaicans to turn off all their electrical items from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm tomorrow as a form of protest against the company.

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), which for some time has been coming under intense criticism on its apparent impotence, yesterday announced in a release that it was "intensifying its ongoing regulatory oversight of the JPS, with regards to customer service and billing issues". The OUR also announced that it would be conducting an investigation into the company's billing system as well as the company's metre-replacement programme to determine, among other things, "the legitimacy of the high billing complaints as well as the appropriateness of the JPS' back-billing policies and procedures". The OUR said its investigation will be completed in six weeks and advised that its findings will be made public. In addition, the utilities regulator advised that it was prepared to take the 'necessary action'.