AFTER taking a battering from the public in the aftermath of Hurricane Beryl last July, Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) now says it has started to implement measures that will enhance service delivery and improve its interactions with customers and other stakeholders.

The JPS faced strong criticisms over its delay in restoring electricity to several customers following the hurricane which brushed the island, and for sharp increase in bills it sent to scores of customers for July and August.

Since then, the company has faced increased scrutiny from the watchdog, Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), which released its findings on the sharp increase JPS customers saw on their bills for the July-August billing cycle.

While accepting that the increase was justified, the OUR chided JPS for not handling the matter better to avoid a bill shock to its customers.

The OUR also urged the JPS to improve its communication with consumers regarding the reasons for bill increases and the measures being taken to mitigate future impacts.

“It bears underscoring, therefore, that going forward, both the JPS and the OUR in consultation will need to be more vigilant to avert the kind of bill shock that can take place resulting from both the disruption to generation configuration and consumption caused by an event such as Hurricane Beryl,” the OUR said in its report.

On Tuesday, media and public relations manager at JPS Audrey Williams told the Jamaica Observer that the findings of the OUR report have highlighted points with which the JPS agrees and has already begun to implement.

“In fact, we began implementing improvements in the aftermath of Beryl — even before the OUR investigation and ensuing report,” Williams said as she pointed out that the company has already launched its electricity bill education campaign which is continuing.

“We appreciate that there are many elements to understand in the JPS bill, and it is our goal to simplify this experience as much as possible,” added Williams.

With the OUR noting that the passage of Hurricane Beryl highlighted the need for enhanced resilience in Jamaica’s electricity sector, including the importance of pre-emptive measures to protect infrastructure and ensure rapid recovery, Williams told the Observer that this is already being done.

“We have amped up our vegetation management programme, as one of several measures to improve grid resilience [and] we have been more intentional in our communication with the OUR, notifying them of potential rate movements and other general communication,” Williams said.

She further asserted that JPS’ efforts to improve stakeholder relations, especially with the Government and its agencies, the OUR, and customers, will result in the benefit of those the company serves.

“Our improved approach was even evident in the passage of Tropical Storm Rafael [which impacted Jamaica in November], though obviously this weather phenomenon was on a much smaller scale,” she said.

“Overall, it is our desire to walk hand-in-hand with our customers and other stakeholders, as we create a positive experience which inspires confidence in the utility and industry as a whole,” added Williams.