The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) in its own inimitable way has sent yet another ‘shock wave’ to consumers when it announces that, among others, it will now be adding general consumption tax to reconnection charges. Never mind that the disconnection might have resulted in the first place from their actions – i.e., either the high cost to use their service or massive overbilling.
Electricity supply, like water, is a basic utility without which the quality of life for all individuals will be adversely affected. So, who will speak up against the action of the JPS?
Our first line of defence, the minister of mining and energy, is preoccupied with his personal well-being, and the next line of defence, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), like many of us, are ‘shocked’ into silence. We dare not take to the streets as the residents of Seaview Gardens found out recently. So what are we to do? We need to examine carefully the role and functions of the OUR.
The OUR was established by an act of Parliament in 1995 to regulate the operations of utilities companies. According to the official website of the OUR, its role as an independent regulator is often misunderstood, particularly by its largest stakeholder group, consumers, who are of the general belief that it seems to side with the utilities providers.
The OUR’s mandate is not that of a consumer advocacy group and, as such, will only intervene in grievances if the affected utility consumer writes to them after getting no satisfaction from the utility company who, in their opinion, did them a disservice. If the overbilling by the JPS is not classified as grievances then what is? This overbilling for which many consumers are unable to pay will now have GCT added for the sure disconnection that will follow. All this while the OUR sits and do nothing when, in fact, it can. Even though it does not see itself as consumer advocacy group, it has a number of divisions, such as the Consumer and Public Affairs.
Advisory group
This division deals with consumer affairs, communication and information. It is in this division that the works of an independent advisory group is facilitated. The name of this group is Consumer Advisory Committee on Utilities. If the OUR wants to intervene on behalf of its consumers/stakeholders, then it can do so directly or indirectly, or however it thinks fit. Not to do so will only make consumers question their relevance in face of this frontal assault on our pockets by the JPS.
And I must admit that the JPS, over the years, has lost a lot of revenue through electricity theft, but we must not forget that a percentage of that ‘lost revenue’ was recovered from us legitimate customers on the approval of no less than the OUR, which now stands impotent.
I am, etc.,
HOWARD D. HAMILTON
Jamaica Gleaner
