Tweet
Bauxite company steals from JPS
An unnamed bauxite company is the latest entity found tampering with the Jamaica Public Service Company facilities. Sources told the Sunday Herald that the company is located in central Jamaica and that settlement was over $80 million. The JPS in a release last week said the company has identified significant cases of irregularities in two large entities — in the retail and production sectors. The company estimates the combined value of the unbilled electricity for these entities at approximately J$150 million.
The other party according to sources settled for over $50 million
JPS has estimated that approximately 13 per cent of the electricity it produced last year was lost to theft. This stolen electricity is valued at just under US$57 million — a cost that is shared by JPS and legal paying customers. The company is anticipating that it will reduce the electricity stolen by one percentage point by the end of 2007.
A Sunday Herald probe has revealed that illegal connections in three political garrisons including Tivoli Gardens represented by Prime Minister Bruce Golding is costing the company just under $2 million monthly or $24 million annually.
Checks revealed that residents in the west Kingston community consume approximately $1 million monthly, however, the company only collects about $100,000. Some time ago community leaders came up with a plan for rates to be paid at the community centre, but only a few residents have been paying.
Nearby Callaloo Mews, another garrison alligned to the opposition Peoples National Party is burning over $500,000 monthly. The Sunday Herald also unearthed data showing illegal connections by residents in Bowerbank consuming over $400,000 monthly. JPS says the one per cent reduction in electricity theft this year represents the first time in several years that there has been a tangible reduction in electricity theft.
This reduction is due largely to a number of irregularities discovered among commercial entities. Among the entities found using electricity illegally since the start of the year are hardware and furniture stores, retail outlets, grocery shops, bars and night clubs, restaurants, State agencies, a football stadium, juice manufacturers, financial institutions and a small hotel.
The businesses found with irregularities in recent weeks are among several entities that are being investigated by JPS, as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to reduce electricity theft. The initiatives being implemented by the company in this regard include account audits, meter investigations, strike force operations to remove throw-ups, and modification of the power distribution system with theft resistant solutions. The losses programme places special emphasis on large accounts, even as it continues to address theft among other customers.
Since the start of the year, the company has carried out approximately 6,700 large account audits, which revealed several loss-impacting irregularities. In addition, more than 8,000 small commercial and residential accounts were investigated between January and November. Among the loss impacting irregularities discovered were several cases of meter tampering, line taps, and direct connections. Also, the company’s loss reduction operations have resulted in the removal of close to 23,000 illegal throw-up lines.
Comment