JPS unearths almost 3000 irregularities during customer meter audits

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) is reporting that its drive to reduce the illegal abstraction of electricity, through meter audits, strike force operations, and other strategies has been bearing fruit.

The JPS says up to May 21, its teams have audited 17,475 meters, resulting in the identification of 2,798 irregularities.

According to the company, the irregularities have been associated with customers at every socio-economic level, in both rural and urban settings.

“The most frequent occurrence of meter irregularities were detected in May Pen, Kingston & St. Andrew (South) and Savanna-La-Mar, which accounted for 1,007 or 36% of the total number of irregularities discovered,”.

“The highest valued recoveries, in terms of the dollar amount being stolen, were detected in Kingston and St. Andrew (North and South), and May Pen, where a total of some $44.4 million were recovered – out of a total recovery of $97.2 million for all parishes for the period. Some of the irregularities have included the use of sophisticated switches, tampered meter gears, and tampered wiring,”.

Meanwhile, JPS says its strike force teams have removed over 69,894 throw-ups, from the national network, since the start of the year.

“The period also saw 46 persons arrested for the illegal abstraction of electricity. Additionally, the Company has been incorporating a strategic approach which involves greater dialogue and moral suasion, to encourage compliance in a number of communities,”.

JPS is appealing to persons who are not regularised, to contact the Company for information on how to become legal customers. 

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