OUR instructs JPS to reverse fuel charge increase on September bills

The Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) has instructed the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) to ensure that the fuel charge on customers' September electricity bills are reversed following the spike on August bills.

Energy Minister Daryl Vaz, in a media release on Wednesday, said the move was in response to his letter to the OUR insisting on justice for JPS customers. 

“The OUR directed JPS to do the following: reduce the fuel charge for the 2024 September bills by the difference in JPS' fuel cost in July over June and bills with zero consumption that do not show a corresponding zero money value should be reissued,” OUR Director General, Ansord Hewitt, on Tuesday.

Vaz said the director general indicated that the directive is tantamount to a reversal of the current hefty increases.

"Please note that the directive with respect to the September bill is intended to have the same effect as what would have resulted from a reversal of the charge and reissuance of bills except that it is a less complex process and credit will show up on September bills", the OUR head advised.

JPS has also advised the energy minster that no disconnections will occur due  to bill payments up to September 15, 2024.

Vaz said he will continue to follow up on both JPS and OUR to ensure customers receive justice.

Meanwhile, the energy minister said he is also awaiting word from the OUR on its investigation into the current JPS billing cycle and has urged a comprehensive but expeditious completion of the probe.

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