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Dear Editor,
The Jamaica Public Service Co Ltd has noted the protest of residents in Seaview Gardens and remains open to resolving these issues once they are brought to a Customer Service Office, or the Customer Care Centre, in keeping with our procedures for handling customer queries and complaints.
However, the company would like to make reference to a customer who was featured on the front page of the Observer of October 9, 2010. She displayed her bill with all her pertinent information, while the picture was titled “$290,000 light bill”. Allow us to clarify this situation for you.
A check on the customer’s account, hereinafter referred to as Jane Brown, showed that Jane Brown opened the account in February 1996, but ceased to make regular payments after December 2001. Two payments were made in 2002, in May and August. In February 2003, Jane Brown made her only light bill payment for that year. In the years that followed, from 2004 to 2009, no payments were made for electricity consumed.
In March 2010, JPS introduced the Residential Automated Metering Infrastructure programme in Seaview Gardens, to address the problem of the illegal use of electricity. At that time, many residents with arrears, including Jane Brown, came forward to straighten out their accounts. At that time her balance was $422,655.55. In the interest of assisting the customer, a special write-off of $150,000 was given, leaving her with a balance owing of $272,655.55. Additionally, moving forward, Jane Brown received a range of discounts on her current usage from April to September 2010. Notwithstanding her payment arrangement and her continued consumption of electricity, Jane Brown has not made a payment since April 2010, hence the movement of her bill beyond $290,000.
We therefore advise Jane Brown, and any other customers who may find themselves in arrears, to visit a Customer Service Office, so that suitable arrangements can be made.
Winsome Callum
Head, Corporate Communication
Jamaica Public Service Company Limited
6 Knutsford Boulevard
Kingston 5