KINGSTON, Jamaica — Phillip Paulwell, the Opposition Spokesperson on Energy and Climate Change, says he is relieved that the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) has responded positively to his call for a discount to be applied to the bills of customers post-Beryl.

Paulwell noted that on July 19 he publicly criticised JPS’s decision to issue estimated bills, highlighting the undue financial burden it would place on customers still suffering from power disruptions. He said he called for JPS to rescind this decision and instead offer a significant discount to recognise the hardships faced by consumers.

The JPS announced on Tuesday that a 20 per cent discount will be applied to the bills of customers who use 150 kWh of electricity or less for the month. This discount will be applied to current charges and will be reflected on bills that customers will start receiving in August. Active prepaid residential customers will get a one-off $1,500 top-up electricity credit on their accounts.

Additionally, JPS has temporarily suspended disconnections for non-payment up to August 15, 2024, and is facilitating flexible payment arrangements for customers needing extensions.

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“We are pleased to see that JPS has taken these steps in response to our call for action,” Paulwell said in a media release on Tuesday. “The decision to provide discounts and additional relief measures indicates that JPS is beginning to understand the importance of their role in helping alleviate the financial pressures on their customers during this recovery period. While we would have preferred a more significant discount offered to the people of Jamaica, we recognise and appreciate the gesture and are hopeful that there is more to come over the coming weeks to further aid the customers in getting their lives back to normalcy after Hurricane Beryl.”

Paulwell further commended JPS’s initiative to submit a proposal to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to review the mechanism for calculating estimated bills for customers affected by extended outages due to the hurricane.

“If this is what it will take to prevent them from sending unjust estimated bills to customers during this difficult time, then we welcome this review, so long as it ensures fairness and transparency in billing practices. We urge the OUR to urgently attend to this matter,” the People’s National Party (PNP) representative said.

Paulwell said the PNP remains dedicated to advocating for policies that prioritise the welfare of Jamaican citizens.

“Utility companies must have resilient systems to provide uninterrupted and accurate services, especially during natural disasters,” he said. “We will continue to hold these entities accountable and work towards ensuring that the needs of the public are met.”