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Have A Heart - Energy Minister Raps JPS Disconnection Policy
Have A Heart - Energy Minister Raps JPS Disconnection Policy
Published: Sunday | July 31, 20110 Comments
People queue to pay their utility bills to avoid disconnection. - File
Livern Barrett, Sunday Gleaner Writer
Energy and Mining Minister Clive Mullings has described as "unconscionable" the Jamaica Public Service Company's (JPS) practice of disconnecting customers who have paid two-thirds of their electricity bill.
Mullings predicted that this practice, which he blamed on the company's decision to hire private contractors to carry out disconnections, will lead to widespread resentment from JPS customers that could derail future investments.
"If you are going to go down to the last dollar ... I have a $5,000 bill and I pay you $4,000 and because you don't get the $1,000 you cut me off, that is going to feed a groundswell of resentment which can jeopardise any investment," he warned.
"It is important for the Jamaica Public Service Company to have the human face to assist the customers. These are very difficult times," said Mullings, who was speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum at the company's North Street offices on Thursday.
JPS president and CEO Damian Obiglio, in his response, said the light and power company has been offering payment plans to some of its customers, but declined to comment further.
"Because you can imagine the line would be from here to Negril with people asking for payment plans," he explained.
"I am glad that my customers have recognised that we have been holding (their) hands," he added.
In the meantime, Mullings urged business operators and householders to look at what they can do to reduce their electricity bills.
Stem wastage
"We have to look at the lowest hanging fruit. People, especially manufacturers, must do their audits. If you have a leaking water pipe you are going to deal with it. We are not seeing the electricity, but we are leaking it. See electricity as a leaking pipe," he suggested.
"These are some of the mundane things that we have to do to ensure that we are able to reach to that point (reduced electricity bills). Energy efficiency is critical in that mix," he said.
"The most graphic time we see energy is on the gas gauge and on the light (electricity) bill. When it goes up, then we go into a kind of spasm of worry and concern, but then we don't do anything about it. We see the solution as elsewhere, and we blame elsewhere," he added.
livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com
Published: Sunday | July 31, 20110 Comments
People queue to pay their utility bills to avoid disconnection. - File
Livern Barrett, Sunday Gleaner Writer
Energy and Mining Minister Clive Mullings has described as "unconscionable" the Jamaica Public Service Company's (JPS) practice of disconnecting customers who have paid two-thirds of their electricity bill.
Mullings predicted that this practice, which he blamed on the company's decision to hire private contractors to carry out disconnections, will lead to widespread resentment from JPS customers that could derail future investments.
"If you are going to go down to the last dollar ... I have a $5,000 bill and I pay you $4,000 and because you don't get the $1,000 you cut me off, that is going to feed a groundswell of resentment which can jeopardise any investment," he warned.
"It is important for the Jamaica Public Service Company to have the human face to assist the customers. These are very difficult times," said Mullings, who was speaking at a Gleaner Editors' Forum at the company's North Street offices on Thursday.
JPS president and CEO Damian Obiglio, in his response, said the light and power company has been offering payment plans to some of its customers, but declined to comment further.
"Because you can imagine the line would be from here to Negril with people asking for payment plans," he explained.
"I am glad that my customers have recognised that we have been holding (their) hands," he added.
In the meantime, Mullings urged business operators and householders to look at what they can do to reduce their electricity bills.
Stem wastage
"We have to look at the lowest hanging fruit. People, especially manufacturers, must do their audits. If you have a leaking water pipe you are going to deal with it. We are not seeing the electricity, but we are leaking it. See electricity as a leaking pipe," he suggested.
"These are some of the mundane things that we have to do to ensure that we are able to reach to that point (reduced electricity bills). Energy efficiency is critical in that mix," he said.
"The most graphic time we see energy is on the gas gauge and on the light (electricity) bill. When it goes up, then we go into a kind of spasm of worry and concern, but then we don't do anything about it. We see the solution as elsewhere, and we blame elsewhere," he added.
livern.barrett@gleanerjm.com
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