Vaz calls for OUR to extend powers of oversight to JPS
Published:Friday | August 23, 2024 | 5:30 PM
Minister of Energy Daryl Vaz has raised concerns regarding the efficacy of the oversight being provided by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) in respect to the Jamaica Public Service Company.
On Wednesday, Vaz wrote a letter to the President and CEO of JPS asking several questions including the more than 30% increase in the fuel charge being billed to customers.
In the letter, Vaz asked whether the OUR was notified of the fuel charge increase and sought clarity on whether an approval was granted for the over 30% increase being reflected in JPS bills.
“As Minister, I have concerns regarding the cause of such an increase within a one-month period and I hold even greater concern over the fact that this was either approved by the OUR or even worse, not shared with the regulator,” Vaz stated in a media release this afternoon.
It was argued that the electricity licence and the OUR Act have several standards and obligations on the part of JPS and requires the company to submit the calculation of the fuel rate (along with supporting documentation) to the OUR monthly for approval.
Unless the JPS has been granted leave to deviate from these obligations or an approval granted for adjustments by the regular, several glaring anomalies are evident, and the regulatory body must make public their position in this matter, charged Vaz.
Vaz has called for the OUR to extend its powers into the present and not conduct a post-analysis of the matter when it might be too late for JPS to be held accountable.
The Energy Minister is reminding the Office of their functions under Section 4 of the Act.
Meanwhile, in a voice message Vaz reiterated his call for JPS to roll back the high increases in bills for August.
Vaz was today expected to get a proposal from JPS indicating how the utility company plans to address regarding the current billing cycle.
He said the information was yet to be submitted.
JPS has been heavily criticised for the massive increases in customers' bills which, the company said, should be attributed to high fuel charges and the exchange rate.
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