RESIDENTS of the lower section of Maxfield Avenue in Kingston yesterday staged a demonstration to protest against the disconnection of illegal connections to their premises by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS).

The light and power company insisted yesterday that connections disconnected from four transformers were all illegal as paying customers were not cut.

“[The] JPS has been working extensively on the ground in the community since December 2015, encouraging users to become regularised. The company extended assistance to community members by facilitating free house wiring and recertification for 300 consumers. The company also held monthly community meetings and had representatives making door-to-door visits to promote sign-ups for legal service,” a company release said yesterday.

It added that the response from residents had been extremely positive, as last year 37 people signed contracts for service with the company, while another 263 signed up for legal supply this year.

“Presently, roughly 30 households are still not legally connected and are therefore without power,” JPS said.

The company encouraged those without electricity to contact its customer service office at East Parade in downtown Kingston to start the process of regularisation, pointing out that the company owes it to its paying customers to eliminate the illegal use of electricity and to create a fair and level field for all.