THE CONSUMER Affairs Commission (CAC) has warned Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo) customers that they could see increases in their next bills as high as 25 per cent or more, rather than the 6.4 per cent stated by the company.
The CAC, in a release last night, said that having been "overwhelmed" with daily reports and complaints against the utility giant, it had initiated a meeting with the company on Tuesday, to seek answers to consumers' concerns.
"Following the JPSCo's latest news release, the CAC is warning the public that, using the reported consumption levels of many persons registering complaints recently, some consumers might see increases in their electricity bills to the tune of 25 per cent or more, compared to their last bill, rather than the 6.4 per cent stated by the JPSCo (which referred to a typical residential customer using 250 kilowatt hours of electricity in the month)," the release said.
The CAC added, however, that this was dependent on the extent of individual household consumption over the festive season.
The Commission said that conservation will be necessary to see a reduction in bills. "It is time for our consumers who have not yet begun to do so, to practise conservation now," said Angella Manning, the Commission's executive director.
The CAC is the Government agency within the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology, which has been given the mandate of protecting and educating consumers on their rights and responsibility within the market place.
