JPS meters explained in layman's terms

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I would like to give a layman's explanation for the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) meter-exchange 'discrepancies'. Most people own, or know someone who owns, a watch and so may be able to identify with that example.

There are two kinds of watches: analogue watches and digital watches, just like the meters. The analogue watches have moving parts that wear over time, just like the analogue meters, while the digital watches have electronic parts that do not, just like the electronic meters.

If you purchase an analogue watch, you know that after some time, the watch will need servicing or replacement, because the worn moving parts will cause the watch to run slowly and the time will be incorrect. The same happens with analogue meters. Over time, they run slowly and the readings are incorrect.

With a watch, we have the luxury of checking 117 or a friend, or the radio, and we find out almost immediately that our watch is slowing down. There is no such way of checking a meter.

Imminent change

If you purchase a digital watch, you will know instantly that it has stopped working: the screen either goes blank or shows gibberish. This would be the same for the JPS meters, when they start to age long enough.

It seems hard because so many people have had slow meters for so long. My hope is that when all the meters are exchanged, and all customers are being recorded accurately, the losses to the JPS can be eliminated, and then true charges can be put in place which will actually be cheaper overall.

LAVINIA MCCLURE

nickmini@yahoo.com

Kingston