THE STAND-OFF between the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS) and Bureau of Standards Jamaica (BSJ) has been settled.
Minister of Commerce, Science and Technology, Phillip Paulwell, has revoked the recently gazetted Compulsory Standards Order that provides for the mandatory testing of electricity meters.
A release from Mr. Paulwell's ministry late yesterday gave little details of the agreement reached between the two entities, but said the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) is to issue the directive which establishes the key elements of the regulatory framework on
which both the JPS and BSJ have agreed.
"It was clear after extensive discussions among stakeholders, there were no real differences with regard to objectives and that the modalities only needed to be finalised among the parties," Mr. Paulwell stated in the release.
SCIENTIFIC METHODS
He added that "scientific methods for the sampling and testing of meters in homes and businesses would be a routine feature of the programme." The protocol to be issued by the OUR will now govern the entity that will administer the testing of meters as well as the basis on which the meters will be tested. In addition, the JPS is to pursue what has been described as an accreditation exercise that requires regular auditing of the equipment, personnel and systems used in its meter testing programme.
As a consequence, he said the JPS has agreed to withdraw the lawsuit filed against the BSJ in the Supreme Court, and the action to stay the implementation of the said Compulsory Standards Orders that was established in August under the Standards Act.
