In Jamaica, all the users of electricity are obliged to take the service from ONE company - the Jamaica Public Service. There is no competition and, therefore, users have no choice. This monopoly generally leads to dictatorship-style behaviour. When consumers are held under the grip of one supplier this is bondage and the company is generally inclined to be oppressive and treat their hostages (which is what we are) with disdain.

The users of JPS's electricity feel powerless, hopeless and angry. Because it is difficult to live, within a reasonable standard, without electricity, we are forced to pay our hard-earned money to the JPS, even after the poor treatment.

Any commodity as essential as electricity must have competitors, so that persons are at liberty to choose, and not forced to live with an electricity bully, who is telling you, by its actions, that you just have to take it, because you cannot easily do without its service.

unfair treatment

I will give one example of poor and unfair treatment from JPS. A relative of mine has been a customer of JPS for 20 years. This account is generally in credit and it has never had a disconnection order against it. The bill for August was $1,597.18; but it did not come and was not realised by the account owner. Although JPS has two telephone numbers for the customer, she was not called. Her light was disconnected and she was then required to pay, in addition to the bill, a reconnection fee of $1,441 and a deposit of $1,200, which is almost twice the cost of the bill. Despite several appeals to the company, it has shown no leniency.

From this treatment, it would appear that JPS's mission statement should read: 'We would rather disconnect, as quickly as possible, instead of contacting the customers'. In many countries where their criminal justice system is more equitable, they have a 'three-strikes-out rule'. In Jamaica, the JPS, which supplies an essential commodity, disconnects service immediately for one strike without contacting the customer, or considering the customer's payment record. This is poor customer service and persons should not be forced to use JPS's service after that kind of treatment. The customer should have a choice of at least one other competitor.

lobby group

We, the users of JPS's electricity must form a lobby group to pressure our Government to provide us with at least one more power supply company, so that when JPS treat us disrespectfully and unjustly we can have a choice. I am sure if there was competition, JPS's disconnection and restoration rules, with these high fees, would be more flexible.

I am inviting all users, who believe that they have been 'wronged' by JPS, to let us join together to ensure that our Government acts with urgency to take us out of this 'electricity bondage'.

I am, etc;

DMJ

dormj@cwjamaica.com