With claims that some Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) customers have seen November bills with increases above the seven per cent for which Jamaicans were told to brace, the utilities regulator is urging people to report any higher than expected charge.

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) on Wednesday underscored that there is a process in place to check on sharp increases in their utility bills.

“We urge JPS customers to check it [the bill] carefully to see if there is any amount being brought forward. If there isn’t, then we advise them to utilise the complaints channel at the JPS,” OUR Public Education Specialist Elizabeth Bennett Marsh told the Jamaica Observer.

“Certainly, if they are not satisfied with the responses provided by JPS, then we ask them to contact us at the OUR,” added Bennett Marsh.

On December 15 the OUR announced that a number of factors caused it to approve a seven per cent increase in the fuel portion of JPS bills. Those factors included higher generation costs after Hurricane Melissa disrupted the natural gas supply on October 28, forcing JPS to use more expensive fuel, and a reduction in electricity sales by approximately 30 per cent, which pushed up the fuel and Independent Power Producer (IPP) charges.

According to the OUR, in an effort to limit the immediate impact on consumers, it approved a plan to defer a portion of the increased costs, spreading the increase gradually over several months to avoid bill shock and ease the burden on customers.

The regulator said electricity generation costs and consumption levels could take up to six months to stabilise following the Category 5 storm which left most damage in the south-western and north-western sections of the island.

On Wednesday, Bennett Marsh pointed out that while some JPS customers may experience slight increases due to issues like a balance brought forward, it should not be related to the fuel charge.

“It may be a part of the seven per cent increase, but there are many factors, so that’s why we are saying customers just have to check with JPS, have them explain what is causing the spike, if it is totally the seven per cent or there are other factors actually,” said Bennett Marsh.

Based on the calculations by the OUR, for an average JPS residential customer using 165 kWh the increase should add approximately $655 to a bill that was previously approximately $9,000.

In his defence of the increase, minister with responsibility for energy Daryl Vaz said, “In approving this measure, the OUR has acknowledged that, given the scale of the impact of the disaster it may take up to six months for electricity generation costs to stabilise and for the energy consumption patterns to return to normal.”

Vaz added: “Importantly, the JPS and the OUR, at this time, have been working collaboratively to defer a portion of these increased costs, spreading recovery over several months to avoid bill shock and ease the burden on customers. Recognising the risk that further adjustments could place additional pressure on households and businesses, the OUR has urged JPS to engage closely with the regulator before applying any additional charges over the next six months, ensuring that the recovery process remains gradual, transparent, and manageable for consumers,” Vaz said.

There have been claims that some Jamaica Public Service Company customers have seen November bills with increases above the seven per cent for which Jamaicans were told to brace