KINGSTON, Jamaica —The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) today announced that it has granted a three-month extension to the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to adjust its systems so that breaches of the final four guaranteed standards attract automatic compensation instead of requiring customers to file a claim.

The new date for effecting this isnow September 1.

The OUR,  said in a release that, in keeping with Condition 17 of the All Island Electric Licence (2011), had directed JPS in its 2014-2019 Tariff Determination to make the changes effective June 1.

However, the OUR indicated that on May 31, the JPS advised that it needed an additional four months to address specific issues that impact its ability to make the standards automatic.

Among the issues cited by JPS are: post implementation issues from previous changes of other standards from ‘claim’ to ‘automatic’ compensation; technical difficulties specific to the use of RAMI meters; and the need for additional consultation with the OUR. The company requested a four (4) month delay from June 1 to October 1.

The OUR said after careful deliberations, and indicating to JPS its disappointment with the development of these internal issues it decided to grant a three-month extension.

The approved delay recognised the realities of the difficulties that JPS indicated and is intended to allow for completion of all technical and other work necessary for the conversion to take effect without resulting in disruption and inconvenience to customers, the release said.

The OUR reiterated that notwithstanding the extension, the JPS is bound to honour claims submitted for any breaches of these standards. Customers are therefore encouraged to continue to make timely claims in order to be appropriately compensated for breaches by JPS.