Vaz calls meeting with JPS’ leadership, shareholders
Published:Wednesday | July 24, 2024 | 2:45 PM
Minister of Energy Daryl Vaz has called a meeting with the leadership of the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) after expressing dissatisfaction with the hurricane relief programme announced by the company.
The meeting is set for Friday.
In Parliament on Tuesday, Vaz blasted the JPS for its recovery efforts, pointing out that nearly three weeks since Hurricane Beryl passed, thousands of customers are still without electricity.
The JPS later issued a statement outlining a relief programme for customers, which included discounts.
Asked today if he was satisfied with the JPS' relief programme, Vaz responded: “No. I am calling a meeting with managing director (and) shareholders.”
Shareholders in the JPS include Marubeni Corporation of Japan and East-West Power of South Korea, jointly own 80 per cent of the JPS. The remaining 20 per cent of shares are owned by the Government of Jamaica and several small shareholders.
The JPS relief package includes a 20 per cent discount off the bills of customers who use 150 kwh of electricity or less for the month; a one-off $1,500 top-up of electricity credit on the accounts of prepaid customers; a relaxed collection and disconnection process; and support to communities through the JPS Foundation and JPS Volunteers On Location To Serve (VOLTS), which so far have provided care packages to 200 families in St Elizabeth since the hurricane.
Vaz also expressed dissatisfaction that the JPS' original estimate given to Cabinet for restoration has been missed; the JPS' deadlines published for parish-by-parish restoration have been missed; the areas which the JPS has indicated are restored are not fully restored.
Vaz said based on the missed deadlines, “the projected date for full restoration keeps moving further and further away.”
He said outside of St Elizabeth, the worst affected parish, there were 19,000 customers without electricity.
Vaz issued a reminder that the JPS licence comes up for re-negotiation in 2027 and warned that “we must make sure as a country that any new licence protects the people and not just JPS.”
Vaz also had issues with the JPS announcing that estimated bills would be sent to customers this month, a situation which the light and power company said was brought about by the impact of the hurricane.
- Carl Gilchrist
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