New, stronger laws governing utilities long overdue
Many Jamaicans are marking ‘Emancipendence’ 2024, inclusive of Independence Day today (August 6) and Emancipation Day on August, 1 with mixed feelings.
We dare say that, for a great many of us, this has been a time of relative relaxation in front of television sets, willing our athletes forward as they strive for Olympic glory in far away Paris, France.
Sadly, thousands, especially in the southern regions of the country, but also in some more northerly areas, are unable to watch the drama in Paris. That’s because of loss of electricity since Hurricane Beryl devastated southern coastal areas on July 3.
In areas worst affected by the storm continued absence of electricity is relatively easy to understand. It’s far less so for those in communities where there has been little or no visual evidence of damage to infrastructure belonging to electricity provider, Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS).
That last, largely explains the discontent and road-block protests in mainly inland sections of the country over recent weeks and days. It’s hard for people to fathom reasons for being without light and power when, to the naked eye, damage has been restricted to the odd broken utility pole and a few fallen power lines.
Against that backdrop, Jamaica’s utility regulator, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR), says it has directed JPS — a private company which is majority owned by overseas investors — to restore light and power for all customers by its promised August 12 deadline.
OUR tells us that, “Failure to comply with this directive within the time specified will render JPS liable to enforcement action pursuant to Section 9 of the Office of Utilities Regulation Act…”
That could include taking the utility to court, where, if it is found guilty of not fulfilling its obligations, it could be fined a sum not exceeding $2 million.
We have also taken note that while OUR is requiring JPS to achieve “100 per cent restoration to consumers” the directive is apparently subject to “inaccessibility issues” in some areas.
Legalities and related conditionalities are complications that bill-paying Jamaicans pleading for speedy electricity restoration can do without.
That desire to hasten the return of the essential service is the reason some people in the rural areas have been voluntarily bushing roadsides and digging holes for anticipated replacement utility poles.
News reports Monday said Prime Minister Andrew Holness held talks with JPS to discuss the situation.
The prime minister is now on record in joining his energy minister, Mr Daryl Vaz, as well as political Opposition spokespersons and others, in voicing dissatisfaction with JPS.
On Monday, Mr Holness also spoke of consideration being given to a new legislative framework to ensure utility customers are better protected. Strengthened legislation should have happened years ago, it seems to us.
Pointing out that JPS is privately owned, the prime minister said that “does not take away the legislative authority of the Government, and what we are seeing in terms of the return of electricity to some areas of the country… is not being done in a way for which the Government is satisfied”.
Those words make sense. Now for action.