MINISTER of Energy and Mining Clive Mullings has called on the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to immediately cease the installation of so-called smart meters and the policy of back-billing customers based on allegations of meter-tampering, until an investigation being conducted by the Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) is completed.
Speaking at a press conference at his ministry in Kingston yesterday, Mullings said he would write formally to the JPS indicating his position.
The minister said while the JPS had concerns about cases of meter-tampering, the public had also raised questions relating to the accuracy of the digital meters, referred to as smart meters which are be installed to replace the old analog meters.
“We believe that since there is an investigation being conducted by the OUR into issues of terms of billing and as it relates to smart meters that with the greatest of respect that this cease until the investigation is completed,” Mullings stated.
He said with the JPS proposing to back-bill customers for a long as five years, a cessation on back-billing would be “the fair thing to do”.
Following islandwide protests against the astronomical bills and controversial billing policies of the JPS, the OUR ordered a probe into the operations of the utility company. The probe is being conducted by a seven-person team headed by former OUR director general J Paul Morgan, and has a deadline of October 7 for completion.
The minister also defended his position that a commission of enquiry be established to probe the operation of the JPS, but said it has been postponed until after the OUR’s investigation is completed.
He said the suspension of the commission of enquiry was needed so that it does not repeat the work of the OUR. “We don’t want to go over travelled ground or to incur unnecessary cost,” he said.
Asked if a joint committee of Parliament could not achieve the same results as a commission of enquiry, Mullings said he was of the view that properly qualified persons were needed for the probe.
“With the greatest of respect I believe the expertise does not lie with the parliamentarians and policymakers to deal with this issue,” he said.
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