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JPS

JPS Getting 30-Day Sandy Loan

November 13, 2012

THE EDITOR, Sir:

The near-monopoly electricity provider, Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), has unilaterally decided that it will be estimating our bills based on the last three months’ consumption, as if our usage remained intact for October, the month Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of the eastern end of the island.

Those of us in the east who were without electricity service for an average of three to seven days, having been made to pay this estimated bill for October, will be credited thereafter in November when the meters are read.

This means that JPS will be holding the amount for which we are to be eventually credited, for 30 days after taking it from us! That portion, which is bound to be a multimillion-dollar figure, will, in reality, be a 30-day Sandy loan from us all to JPS.

Consider this iniquitous approach against people who have already suffered loss from the hurricane!

If we, the consumers, had a say in the matter, the approach to billing could be more equitable, in that they could simply charge us 80 per cent of the average of our previous three months’ consumption, and for November, reconcile our accounts after there is a reading.

To dictate that it will be an average of our past three months’ payments is to demonstrate the stranglehold monopolies providing an essential service have upon our meagre wallets. JPS must be reminded that we are all parties to a contract with them to provide service, and in that respect, the voices of the consumers are as important as that of the provider.

BERT S. SAMUELS

Attorney-at-law

bert.samuels@gmail.com

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JPS News

VIDEO: JPS admits running out of options as electricity theft jumps

November 13, 2012

ELECTRICITY theft continues to hit the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) hard, amounting to US$32 million so far this year. In fact, so pervasive has been the illegal activity that the company is acknowledging that it is running out of options to stem it.

“It’s at a high rate, and I see it increasing, simply because as electricity rates increase… We have run out of options, we have just run out of options,” Kelly Tomblin, JPS’s president and CEO told the Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange yesterday.

Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) President and CEO Kelly Tomblin (left) addressing yesterday

JPS News

JPS to be lenient with customers in hurricane-battered parishes

November 13, 2012

THE Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) says that it is prepared to grant some leniency to its customers, particularly those in Portland, St Thomas and St Mary, who are struggling to recover from the effects of Hurricane Sandy.

The move apparently forms part of efforts by the company to improve its customer service, for which it has received harsh criticisms over the years.

JPS customers in areas like this in Eastern Jamaica which was devastated by Hurricane Sandy last month will benefit from some leniency with bill payments from the light and power company.

Since her arrival in Jamaica earlier this year, the company’s President and Chief Executive Officer Kelly Tomblin made it clear that she intends to reposition JPS by paying attention to its customer service flaws, as she focuses on the company’s bottom line.

Tomblin, who was a guest at yesterday’s Jamaica Observer Monday Exchange, disclosed that instructions have already been given for its parish managers and customer service personnel, particularly in the hard hit areas, to exercise discretion and to work with customers who may not be able to settle their bills in one payment.

“This is an important part of JPS that I am committed to. Our customer service personnel and professionals have some parameters, especially around St Mary, St Thomas that really it has to be on a case-by-case scenario. I have also said to my team, people are going to have hard times, because not only have they lost power, they have lost a lot more and to work with them, we are going to have some discretion to make sure we don’t overburden them,” said the JPS CEO, even as she made it clear that the company will still have to honour its debt obligations to its suppliers, particularly state-owned oil refinery Petrojam from which it purchases fuel.

Tomblin’s pronouncement came less than 24 hours after the company announced that about 20 per cent, or approximately 123,000 customers, would be receiving estimated bills for October as a result of the disruption in its meter-reading schedule.

“JPS was unable to carry out meter reading in some communities in the period immediately after the hurricane, as many of the company’s meter readers were redeployed to assist with restoration,” explained Winsome Callum, JPS’s head of corporate communications, who was also a guest at the Monday Exchange.

“Our billing system is set up to calculate estimated bills using an average of the last three actual readings of the customer’s meter. Some customers may therefore have been estimated for days when they were without electricity following the hurricane,” Callum added.

Checks by the Jamaica Observer have revealed that the affected customers could actually see an initial increase in their bills as the three-month average will include consumption for the months of July and August which are normally characterised by higher energy consumption.

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Government JPS LNG

VIDEO: 40% drop in light bills unrealistic

November 13, 2012

Head of the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Kelly Tomblin said the power company can no longer guarantee that customers will see as much as 40 per cent reduction in their electricity bills when it begins using liquefied natural gas (LNG) to operate its planned 360-megawatt power plant.

In February this year, JPS’s then Chief Financial Officer Dan Theoc had said that the company expected the country’s first 360-megawatt project to deliver savings of 30-40 per cent on electricity bills based on the plant operating on cheaper LNG while using diesel fuel as a backup.

Kelly Tomblin, president and chief executive officer of the Jamaica Public Service Company, speaking at yesterday

JPS

Customers To Receive Estimated Oct Bills – JPS

November 12, 2012

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has said that some 123,000 customers will receive estimated bills for October.

The company said this was due mainly to the disruption in the company’s meter-reading schedule caused by Hurricane Sandy. The JPS said it was unable to carry out meter reading in some communities in the period immediately after the hurricane, as many of the company’s meter readers were redeployed to assist with restoration.

However, yesterday the company was unable to state the communities that would be getting these bills.

“Our billing system is set up to calculate estimated bills using an average of the last three actual readings of the customer’s meter. Some customers may, therefore, have been estimated for days when they were without electricity following the hurricane,” explained Winsome Callum, JPS head of corporate communication.

Callum said in the event that a customer’s usage is overestimated, this will be reflected in the next meter reading. She said based on the reading, any necessary adjustment will be made to the customer’s next bill to reflect his or her actual usage.

The JPS says customers who have concerns about their bills are asked to contact customer care centre at 1-888-225-5577 (LIME) or 1-888-935-5577 (Digicel), or visit their nearest customer service office and speak with a representative.

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Alternative Energy News

NationGrowth Has Loans For Alternative Energy

November 8, 2012

Edwards-Hamilton
Edwards-Hamilton

NationGrowth Micro-Finance Limited is offering Jamaicans special financing arrangements for the purchase of alternative energy systems and equipment. This will dramatically reduce the cost of electricity bills for consumers within the medium term, with monthly loan repayments being lessened relative to client’s average current electricity bill. The loan period extends for a maximum of five years and effectively generates free electricity for many years with the installation of a full system.

According to chief executive officer of NationGrowth, Kim Edwards-Hamilton, “Energy conservation is a critical component in assisting every householder and business in realising a saving in the current and future cost of electricity. We have packaged a renewable energy loan offer for clients that will increase the use of alternative energy sources and promote energy conservation.”

She said further that, “loans can be accessed to accommodate energy conservation projects, for example conversion to LED fixtures and energy-efficient appliances and the purchase of solar water heaters, solar power systems (photovoltaics), biodigesters and wind turbines.”

Loans are offered at a maximum of J$2 million, subject to clients meeting the necessary requirements. Interest rates are at eight per cent per annum and the borrowing period goes up to five years, including a three-month moratorium on the principal.

benefit of solar system

Following the passage of Hurricane Sandy, IREE Solar, a renewable energy provider, through its managing director, Alexander Hill, pointed out that, “having a solar power system during and after a storm is a huge benefit when the public electricity grid is down”. He stated that, “IREE Solar offers both off-grid and hybrid solar power solutions that allow the owner to generate their own power from the sun during the days and use that power immediately or during the night.”

NationGrowth commenced operations in December 2007. The company was founded by former banker Aubyn Hill. The company aims to be the leading micro-finance company over the long term by extending effectual financial and related services to micro-entrepreneurs, individuals and businesses in the small and medium enterprise sector, by providing fast turnaround decisions on workingcapital assistance and responsive customer service at a profit.

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