By Lynford Simpson,
Staff Reporter
THE MINISTRIES of Mining and Energy and National Security and Justice have intervened in an ongoing dispute between the McIntosh Group and the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCo), over the theft of electricity from McIntosh Bedding, by informal settlers at Callaloo Bed, St. Andrew.
At the heart of the dispute is the refusal of McIntosh Bedding to settle an outstanding sum for electricity the JPSCo said it consumed. But, Donald McIntosh, general manager at McIntosh Bedding in the vicinity of Nanse Pen, along Spanish Town Road's industrial belt, is blaming the size of the bill on squatters in the Callaloo Bed community.
The company was on the verge of having its supply disconnected by the state-owned light and power company last week but this was averted by the intervention of Mining and Energy Minister Robert Pickersgill and JPSCo's general manager, Vernon Lawrence, as well as National Security Minister K.D. Knight. The three met with the company's management and worked out a compromise, the details of which have not been divulged.
Mr. McIntosh refused to elaborate on what was discussed with the Ministers but said "we are in the process of having the matter resolved". He declined further comment stating that it would not be fair to do so until there was a resolution of the dispute.
While pointing out that the maintenance of the lines was the full responsibility of McIntosh Bedding, JPSCo said it had been working with the company since mid-1999 in an effort to resolve the matter. In a written response to Gleaner questions, the JPSCo explained that the meter at the bedding manufacturer was tested and found to be registering accurately, the power being consumed. It said the problem was between the meter and the point of entry to the factory where there were a number of conductors with illegal connections supplying the adjoining community of Callaloo Bed.
JPSCo admitted that an electricity bill sent to the McIntosh Group in February when the illegal connections were removed included the power being consumed by the residents via their illegal connections.
In defending its action, the JPSCo said it was "important to note that the illegal connections were made to the private lines at the McIntosh Group, that is, the set of conductors after the meter". The statement added that it was the company's responsibility to remove the illegal connections to its private line, adding that the power which was being consumed by the Callaloo Bed community was pilfered from McIntosh Group and not JPSCo.
An arrangement was entered into by both parties to get the illegal connections off the bedding company's line while providing the community with an alternate source of electricity. This would result in JPSCo designing a system that would prevent theft. The work was however put on hold to give enough time to provide the community with an energy source.
During this period, the JPSCo agreed to assess the energy consumed by the illegal connections after the agreed completion date of January 10, 2000. This was done by recording the consumption of McIntosh Bedding after the illegal connections were removed and using this as a basis to adjust the billings for the company between January 10, and February 26, 2000.
At this point, the JPSCo said it agreed to issue a rebate to McIntosh Bedding for the period January 11 to February 26. But, the company refused and discontinued payment of electricity bills in January. It has since made partial payments, the most recent being November 1. However, an outstanding balance remains.
According to Mr. McIntosh, a proposal was put forward by Mr. Pickersgill, "on the basis of give and take". He is concerned however, that the impasse was only temporarily settled.
