Opposition Spokesman on Energy Phillip Paulwell has called on the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) to intervene to “prevent any unfair practice” by the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) after the light and power company announced that customers should brace for higher electricity bills as a result of the possible impact of Tropical Storm Melissa.

READ: Higher electricity bills possible due to Melissa, warns JPS President

JPS CEO and President Hugh Grant had explained that the higher electricity bills were due to the more expensive fuel mix for generators that JPS must utilize during the storm.

However, in a news release on Saturday, Paulwell called on the OUR to monitor the JPS’ billing actions closely, and for JPS to disclose the following information:

– A comprehensive list of all billing cycles, their billing periods, and respective meter reading dates;
– The average fuel price before the onset of the storm that will be the basis for billing cycles impacted during and after the storm;
– The methodology that JPS will use in the fuel calculation for bills due, including any weightings to be applied, given that the JPS generators will only be impacted for a few days during the storm, and that customers may be without supply for extended periods; and
– The projected fuel cost savings arising from the JPS’ shutdown of its generators, the benefit of which should be passed on to customers, versus the increased cost occurring from the new fuel mix.

“While we understand the need for JPS to protect its assets and possible cost consequences, we are also mindful that customers require full transparency in JPS’ billing process, which will allow them to clearly understand how their individual bills have been impacted,” Paulwell said.

Also, noting that the JPS CEO had identified an anticipated 20 per cent contribution by solar and wind-powered independent power providers (IPPs) during the storm, Paulwell said “we have not heard any statement from the independent power producers to substantiate this claim.

“We are therefore calling on the IPPs’ to verify and substantiate this claim made by the JPS, and the JPS to inform customers of any related cost that may arise due to any impacted terms and conditions within the JPS-IPP contracts,” he added.

The Opposition spokesperson charged that “JPS’ unfair actions of generating estimated bills for some customers, including those with smart meters, and of applying unusually high fuel charges after the passage of hurricane Beryl is still fresh in the minds of many Jamaicans.

“In July 2024, I called on the JPS to rescind its actions of estimating bills, rather than procuring actual readings from the company’s digitized billing systems. We hope that this terrible action will not be repeated, but that Jamaicans will be billed in a manner that is fair to both the JPS and its customers.”