The Editor, Sir:

I am writing in response to your Letter of the Day, Saturday, September 9, penned by Beresford Hay.

The Consumer Advisory Committee on Utilities (CACU) was established by the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) because of the absence of effective utility consumer advocacy. OUR has repeatedly stated that we are not a consumer advocacy organisation, rather we invite consumer advocates to lobby us, just as representatives of the utility companies present their case to us on a myriad of issues including tariff reviews.

Because of the quasi-judicial characteristic of OUR, we must remain independent of all the stakeholders, including the Government, utilities and consumers. CACU is funded by OUR, but we do not seek to interfere with their deliberations or statements, including press releases.

What we sought in establishing CACU, and have achieved, is a respected and informed voice for consumers. This voice should not be constrained by government policy or the need to make independent determinations. In fact, it would most likely signal a failure if CACU's position did not ever differ from that of OUR's.

Mr. Hay should also note that OUR has repeatedly stated its position on the matter of payment agencies charging a transaction fee, by way of full-page advertisements in this and other newspapers as well as via statements to and interviews with the media.

Private companies

For the record, payment agencies are private companies not regulated by the OUR. Utility customers need not incur transaction fees when paying their bills. Bills can be paid at the utility companies themselves where no transaction fee will be charged or banks and other financial institutions may be used. OUR has directed utility companies to periodically publish the options available to consumers to pay their bills without incurring a transaction fee.

OUR has also directed the utility companies to explore and implement other options for customers to pay their bills without incurring transaction fees.

OUR continues to monitor the situation to ensure that there are sufficient options for customers to pay their utility bills without incurring a transaction fee. As a regulator, we must empower consumers, and currently consumers have the power of refusal.

Once there is choice, consumers can decide where they will pay their bills and refusing to use the service of a payment agency that charges a transaction fee is the most effective means of having that fee rescinded or the source of irritation removed.

I am, etc.,

DAVID GEDDES

dgeddes@our.org.jm Director Consumer and Public Affairs

Office of Utility Regulations

36 Trafalgar Road

Kingston 10

Via GoJamaica