Dear Editor,
Due to a general increase in the cost of living and utilities over the last year, many well-thinking Jamaicans have sought to find innovative ways to save on energy cost.
Despite the best efforts of individuals to pay the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) bill early and avoid late fees, we have, on multiple occasions, been hit below the belt as the due date comes before most salaries are paid.
The due dates were the 24th of the month for April and June 2014, while most salaries are paid on the 25th and some on the 30th of the month.
Is there absolutely no regard for customers? Are we valued? I submit to you that to assume that this is an oversight by the utility company and the utility regulator would be more than naive and at the very least should warrant an investigation.
The issue of late fees charged by JPS and other companies that have structured payment dates before the date salaries are paid is a multimillion-dollar business. Many Jamaicans are charged $291 per month in late fees ($250 + GCT @16.5 per cent), or $3,492 per year. This will add up to $384 million per year if residential customers (220,000 persons) incur this cost every other month.
What is the role of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR)? Isn't the OUR supposed to regulate the electricity sector? This is a true injustice to the Jamaican people.
I am therefore calling on the OUR and JPS to address this injustice immediately by changing the payment due date to the 30th or 31st of each month.
That would represent true regulation of the sector.
Kemmar Webber
kemmarwebber@gmail.com
JPS late fees unjust
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Due to a general increase in the cost of living and utilities over the last year, many well-thinking Jamaicans have sought to find innovative ways to save on energy cost.
Despite the best efforts of individuals to pay the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) bill early and avoid late fees, we have, on multiple occasions, been hit below the belt as the due date comes before most salaries are paid.
The due dates were the 24th of the month for April and June 2014, while most salaries are paid on the 25th and some on the 30th of the month.
Is there absolutely no regard for customers? Are we valued? I submit to you that to assume that this is an oversight by the utility company and the utility regulator would be more than naive and at the very least should warrant an investigation.
The issue of late fees charged by JPS and other companies that have structured payment dates before the date salaries are paid is a multimillion-dollar business. Many Jamaicans are charged $291 per month in late fees ($250 + GCT @16.5 per cent), or $3,492 per year. This will add up to $384 million per year if residential customers (220,000 persons) incur this cost every other month.
What is the role of the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR)? Isn't the OUR supposed to regulate the electricity sector? This is a true injustice to the Jamaican people.
I am therefore calling on the OUR and JPS to address this injustice immediately by changing the payment due date to the 30th or 31st of each month.
That would represent true regulation of the sector.
Kemmar Webber
kemmarwebber@gmail.com
JPS late fees unjust
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