High cost of electrical inspections putting a strain on homeowners’ pockets

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I write as a concerned homeowner who has encountered the harsh and discouraging realities of Jamaica’s current system for electrical inspections. My recent experience seeking certification for my newly constructed home has left me both frustrated and disheartened.

I contacted two licensed electrical inspectors in Clarendon, one of them quoted a fee of $120,000, while the other inspector quoted $80,000. Alarmingly, both prices excluded the cost for the required circuit drawings, which must be provided once the main electrical cable is 16mm or larger. One of them justified the high prices by citing various factors that inspectors typically consider when setting their fees. However, none of the explanations seemed logical or reasonable. It became quite clear to me that inspectors setting their own prices has opened the door to inconsistent and, frankly, unfair practices that leave consumers at their mercy.

These fees are exorbitant and, frankly, unreasonable for the average Jamaican. It is already financially taxing to build a house. One must purchase land, secure materials, hire skilled labour, and pay a certified electrician to wire the house safely and legally. To then be asked to pay tens of thousands more – just for an inspection – feels like an added punishment for trying to do things the right way.

This situation raises serious questions: Is there a pricing guide that governs what licensed electrical inspectors are allowed to charge? Who is responsible for regulating these fees and ensuring that consumers are not being exploited? If inspectors are inflating costs or operating without transparency, what penalties or consequences are in place to protect the public?

It may be time to reconsider whether the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) should also be responsible for conducting or managing inspections. It seems only logical that the body supplying the service should ensure that consumers meet the necessary safety requirements at a fair and standardized cost. Under JPS’s direct oversight, the process might become more streamlined, transparent, and affordable, eliminating the wide discrepancies in pricing and reducing the temptation for homeowners to bypass the system entirely.

Without proper oversight and accountability, homeowners are left vulnerable to arbitrary pricing and unfair treatment. If the regulatory body permits this to continue, it undermines trust in the entire system and drives desperate citizens toward illegal connections as their only option.

The relevant authorities should urgently review the pricing structures currently being enforced by inspectors and to consider reinstating a more regulated, standardised, and affordable system.

CONCERNED HOMEOWNER