Auditor general says OUR inefficient
AUDITOR General Pamela Monroe Ellis says the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) must put systems in place to effectively and efficiently provide the regulatory oversight of utility providers, for which it was designed to do.
In a 40-page Performance Audit Report tabled in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, the auditor general said her audit found inadequacies in the regulatory, legislative and monitoring framework of the OUR, which impaired its ability to effectively fulfil its objective to assure the supply of quality service to consumers.
“The report further identifies an inconsistency with the appointment of the director general and the deputy directors general, which could undermine the independence of the holders of these offices,” she said in an overview of the findings.
“The report also concludes that OUR’s monitoring strategy is reactive and does not facilitate the prompt detection, prevention and sanction of unlicensed activities. And that, OUR’s Guaranteed Standards Scheme is not achieving its intended objective to ensure that utility providers maintain an acceptable level of service delivery to consumers,” she added.
Monroe Ellis noted that the OUR was established to regulate the provision of prescribed utility services, and that its mission is to contribute to national development by creating an environment for the efficient delivery of utility services to customers, whilst ensuring that service providers have the opportunity to make a reasonable return on investment.
“As such, OUR must put systems in place to effectively and efficiently provide regulatory oversight of utility providers,” she said.
She explained that she commissioned the performance audit to determine whether the OUR is fulfilling its core mandate, to effectively regulate and monitor utility providers. She thanked the management and staff of OUR for the courtesies extended to her staff during the audit.