While commending Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) for its decision to discount customers’ bills next month, Energy Minister Daryl Vaz is demanding that the company account for the disparity in its Hurricane Beryl restoration figures which he says runs counter to the experience of many customers across the island.

“As of this morning [Wednesday] at 9:05, I have already heard from 20 Members of Parliament overnight who are still maintaining that the majority of their constituencies are out of power. Again, this leads me to the point of where the information coming out of JPS, and what is happening on the ground, is at odds and we have got to find a way to make sure that we are all on the same page,” Vaz told a post-Cabinet media briefing at Jamaica House on Wednesday.

As to whether the Government will be asking the utility company to slacken its disconnection policy, Vaz said, “What I did see and hear in an interview done with JPS is that, in relation to disconnections, they have relaxed connection and disconnection practices and have not done so since the hurricane [July 3] and will continue to do so until August 15”.

The energy minister, however, said he was uncertain that the August 15 date was a realistic date given that the hurricane was July.

“The bottom line is, I am very concerned with the timelines that have been given by JPS based on what I am getting out of the field from the MPs and citizens across Jamaica. In less than 24 hours on Sunday, I got over 400 reports from persons who said they were out of power and had not seen any JPS presence in their communities.

“After three weeks I state categorically that, that is unacceptable. We need resolution now,” Vaz declared.

He told the media briefing that the light and power company estimate of communities without power “is absolutely flawed”.

When asked what could account for this Vaz said regional offices of the JPS have most likely been feeding incomplete information to the company’s control centre.

Vaz has been at odds with the light and power outfit since less than one week after the Category 4 hurricane left thousands of Jamaicans without power.

Speaking Tuesday in the House of Representatives, he said he has lost confidence in the JPS to fully restore electricity and as such, would be looking outside for additional help.

“I make no apologies for stating in this House that I have very little confidence in the capacity of the JPS to effect full restoration in the timelines needed. While my powers as minister may be limited with respect to this private company and the deployment of their teams, this Government will do everything legally possible to ensure that we reinforce the ability of the JPS to have power restored across the island as soon as possible,” Vaz told the House.

He pointed to the shifting timelines being given by the JPS for full restoration and noted that it is not only affecting the ability of citizens to access power but also the ability of the National Water Commission (NWC) to fully service its customers.

“If water is life, then the JPS must recognise the current position as life-threatening. This is not just figurative but literal. Several persons are subject to medical conditions that require electricity, whether it be for refrigeration or energy purposes,” he said.

In voicing his frustration, and that of the Government at the length of time it is taking JPS to bring all of its customers back on the grid, Vaz told the House that JPS has indicated that 19,000 customers were yet to receive electricity but he questioned the accuracy of those numbers.

The JPS on Tuesday relaxed its stance on a decision to estimate customers’ bills this month and announced a Hurricane Beryl Relief Programme, which includes providing discounts for approximately 350,000 JPS residential customers. The company said it will be giving a 20 per cent discount on the bills of customers who use 150 kWh of electricity or less for the month.

This discount will be applied to current charges and will be reflected on bills that customers will start receiving in August. Active prepaid residential customers will get a one-off $1,500 top-up electricity credit on their accounts.