Yahneake Sterling and Angelo LawrenceGleaner Writers
THE JAMAICA Public Service Company (JPS) is once again coming under fire from residents in Mandeville and surrounding communities.
According to the residents, they are dissatisfied with the power company's decision to disconnect customers on weekends. At a meeting held in Mandeville on January 29, Reverend Oliver Daley, the minister of Ridgemount United Church, described the weekend disconnection acts as cruel, unfair and unproductive.
The meeting was called by the Mandeville Ministers Fraternal, after one of their church members reported being treated unreasonably by JPS personnel during a disconnection exercise. Present at the meeting were authorities from the JPS, the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) and the Consumer Affairs Commission.
Threats to seek redress from the highest authority of the land if the power company did not cease disconnection on weekends, seemingly fell on deaf ears as Lloyd Thyme, regional manager at JPS, was unapologetic about the residents' concern.
NECESSARY EVIL
He pointed out that the JPS is a business like any other and had to minimise its losses and, as such, disconnection is a necessary evil. He stressed, however, that JPS is by no means happy with disconnecting its customers, and is working to give better customer service to alleviate some of the problems encountered that lead to disconnection.
"We would rather collect than disconnect," said Mr. Thyme.
J. Paul Morgan, of the OUR, said that there is no policy that prevents JPS from disconnecting on a weekend.
"We ask the JPS to exercise good sense and good judgement, in which they put customers at a disadvantage, but at the same time, we can't impose rules on them to prevent them from collecting moneys from customers that are legitimately due," said Morgan.
However, when The Gleaner contacted Winsome Callum, head of corporate communications at JPS, she said that she was not aware of disconnections being carried out on a weekend. "Our policy is that we do not disconnect on a weekend or the day before a public holiday. Disconnections are carried out five days a week, Monday to Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.," said Callum.
DISCONNECTION ON FRIDAY
She explained that there are cases, however, when customers are disconnected on Friday within the time stated but do not recognise that they are disconnected until they return from work.
Ms. Callum said that in cases such as this, customers are urged to get in touch with the JPS's call centre. "We have a facility where they can pay at one of our agencies, such as Paymaster or Bill Express, and where possible, the company can facilitate reconnection, depending on the parish they are in," Callum said.
She added that the company's policy allows for disconnection for non-payment of bills. Once a bill is owing five days beyond the due date then customers are eligible for disconnection for non-payment.
