THERE could be relief coming for Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) customers facing higher-than-usual electricity bills.

Jamaica Observer sources say the company is expected to announce a scheme on Wednesday which could see its customers paying less than they have been billed for August.

There is no official word yet out of a meeting on Tuesday between ministers of government and JPS representatives, but in a release Tuesday afternoon the Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunications, and Transport advised that dedicated e-mail addresses have been established to streamline the process for receiving and resolving complaints from people who have received incorrect electricity bills over the recent billing periods, following the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July.

“Effective immediately, JPS customers who believe their bills have been unfairly affected are encouraged to submit their complaints through the following e-mail addresses: JPS concerns: https://jpscomplaints@mset.gov.jm; OUR concerns: ourcomplaints@mset.gov.jm,” the release read.

The ministry advised customers to provide a brief description of their issue along with a copy of their last two electricity bills when submitting their complaint, to facilitate a swift resolution.

In that release, portfolio minister Daryl Vaz said it was unfortunate that people who have already been significantly impacted by the passage of Hurricane Beryl are now being presented with inaccurate electricity bills.

“Our priority is to ensure that every affected customer receives the necessary support and that any issues related to their electricity bills are addressed promptly and fairly,” he said.

Customers have been complaining of exorbitant electricity charges since the passage of Hurricane Beryl, with some bills, they claim, being close to or exceeding $100,000.

The complainants, some of whom took to social media to air their grouses, claim the billing is inconsistent with their actual usage as they’ve been billed large sums even though they were not at home, or had no or disrupted electricity during the billing period.

Vaz later told the Observer that there has been a significant increase in the number of complaints by JPS customers since the advent of Hurricane Beryl regarding issues that have not been resolved, despite them being told that the matters have been rectified.

“So the Government is taking this very seriously and trying to document the complaints and areas of discontent for all customers as we enter into remedying long-standing issues with utility companies and prepare for a review of the JPS licence and the accompanying rules, regulations and laws,” he said.

Vaz noted that the ministry is not only tackling grievances concerning JPS, but all utilities as there are significant complaints about the telecommunications companies as well.

“What we want to do is… to be on top of it, rather than having to rely on second- and third-hand information. So the customers all around can feel free to pass on all their complaints pre- and post-Beryl so that I can have a good feel as to what’s happening and be able to negotiate on their behalf to get better service all around,” the minister said.

Vaz said the present situation provides an opportunity for a total overhaul of the OUR and regulations, in preparation for the negotiation for the JPS licence which comes up for renewal in 2027.

“This minister is not going to allow the pain and suffering and anguish that the JPS customers and telco customers have undergone over the last few years to go in vain,” he said.

On Monday Vaz, expressing concern about the numerous complaints received from customers who reported large anomalies in their electricity bills following Beryl, demanded that JPS provides his ministry with details about its billing practices by September 6. He also requested that OUR carry out a comprehensive investigation into JPS’s billing and provide the findings by the same date.