JPS still under fire for high bills
Anguish and frustration continue to spew from Jamaica Public Service (JPS) customers who are adamant that their current electricity bills do not mirror their consumption.
Althea Gayle said that she has seen a nearly 1,000 per cent increase in her electricity charges.
“I’ve been going back and forth with JPS now since last September. I went on vacation last August and when I came back, the bill was like $4,000. Then the bill for September was $32,000. So I went to JPS and they said they would send somebody out to investigate; nothing happened,” she said “Me pay all a couple thousand to get my pot head change because I thought my neighbours were stealing my light; nothing changed. I can’t be paying $35,000 a month for light bill and I go to work from 9 a.m. There is nobody using my light.”
Some JPS customers who went to the company’s Ruthven Road office yesterday had similar issues.
Two residents of Lawrence Tavern, St Andrew, Robert Plummber and Rojaun Francis, told THE STAR that their bills remain high despite deliberately cutting back on usage.
WE TRY CONSERVE
“My bill use to come like $9,000 and it jump from there to $12, 000 and since the COVID, it move to $15,000. More time we try conserve to see if it would be less but instead it increase. Me use to leave the lights them on, me stop. Me use to watch two TV. Now me just use the bedroom and not the living room. All the fridge, me plug it out from 5 p.m. and plug it in back in the morning,” said Plummber.
Francis said that his bill used to be $15,000.
“So me come to JPS because me did think it still too high, and me write up multiple complaint form until me lose track. Them say dem a go send somebody to check my meter from last year November all now, and me bill jump to $28,000.”
He added: “Recently, my TV got destroyed. Me decide say me nah buy it back, so me know that suppose to cut the bill and the bill keep on a get higher.”
Yesterday, Energy Minister Fayval Williams called for the Office of Utilities Regulation to conduct an audit into JPS’ operations. The JPS responded with a statement.
“We welcome the minister’s call for an audit and stand ready to assist in this process. This can only help to bring clarity and transparency to the JPS operations and how we serve our customers,” said JPS senior vice-president, Ramsay McDonald.