JLP calls for immediate rollback of JPS bill increases

The Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) is calling for the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to immediately rollback the major increases on customers' August electricity bills.

JLP spokesperson, Kerensia Morrison, said in a statement released to the media on Tuesday that reports that the JPS has applied the "objectionable increases" to the bills of some customers who have not had electricity for several weeks is particularly disturbing.

Morrison urged the JPS to "exercise good conscience and immediately rollback" the increases, even as she called for legislative changes to allow for greater oversight of the entity.

"We have heard the JPS citing a temporary increase in their cost of fuel why the increases have been applied to electricity bills. However, in the circumstances of a natural disaster, we are of the view that it is unconscionable and unacceptable to impose such onerous additional costs on the people of Jamaica. Enough is enough," Morrison stated.

Morrison, who is also the Member of Parliament for North East St Catherine, said the JLP supports efforts by Energy Minister Daryl Vaz to get the Office of the Utilities Regulation to hold the JPS to account for the questionable major increases in electricity bills.

The light and power company on Monday said the recent increase is primarily due to a higher fuel charge, and to a much lesser extent, a higher billing exchange rate.

It said the fuel charge on August bills is $32.172 per kilowatt hour (kWh) compared to the fuel charge of $24.335 on July bills.

The billing exchange rate on bills moved from J$156.30 to US$1 in July, to J$157.53 to US$1 in August.

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