THE EDITOR, Sir:
THERE HAVE been letters recently in The Gleaner about exorbitant electricity bills. I think that mine is the most ridiculous. It was dated November 11, and is for $26,740.15. I called the customer service section, and was told that previous bills were estimated. I then said "tongue-in-check" to the lady with whom I spoke, that perhaps I should not use any at all, but instead run my generator. Her response 'lady yu cyan do whey yu wan',
I then wrote a letter and stapled my cheque for $27,000 to it. This was to JPSCo. In it I asked what was the problem, and if they could please send me copies of the statements August, September and October, so that I could see for myself that these were in fact estimated. Unfortunately, I cannot find those statements. They returned the receipt in the mail, without any of the requested copies, or even a dry note 'we are looking into it'.
LAST ACTUAL READING
The last actual reading that I have is the statement due August 4, for $4,832.90, for which they received $5,000. It has been my custom for many years to round off the bills telephone, water, credit card etc., as I cannot bother with the addition and subtraction. The point I make is, every month JPSCo gets more than it asks for.
I pointed out also that in September for a period of time I was forced to run my generator almost constantly. Shortly thereafter my daughter and I left the island until November 2. I did not even leave on a light bulb, and nobody was here. A neighbour had a key, but she certainly did not send her helper there to do their ironing.
I am, etc.,
JUDITH ROSE-SPENCER
(DR.)
Kingston 6
