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Media Release – OUR to verify computation of JPS bill increase

(KINGSTON, Jamaica; 2021 December 17): The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has received correspondence from the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) regarding steep increases in fuel costs and other related charges that are expected to impact customers’ bills in the coming months.

Specifically, JPS is attributing the increases to the:

  • Higher commodity prices for oil and natural gas internationally;
  • Devaluation of the Jamaican dollar to the US dollar; and
  • Temporary switch from natural gas to the more expensive automotive diesel oil (ADO) at several plants for a combination of reasons.

The OUR recognizes the potential rate shock to customers but is also mindful that costs pertaining to charges by Independent Power Producers (IPP) and foreign exchange rate movements are direct pass-through to customers. These are explicitly provided for in the Electricity Licence (2016) and the JPS Rate Schedule and as such are not subject to regulatory control.

The OUR, however, has a duty to verify the composition and computation of such charges and how they are applied to customers’ bills. As such, we have written to JPS requesting additional information including:

  • The rates and charges applied to customer categories for 2021 November and 2021 December;
  • Analyses of the increases in fuel and IPP costs arising from the switch from natural gas to ADO; and
  • An explanation as to why some plants switched from natural gas to ADO.

The OUR expects to receive all requested information from JPS by 2021 December 24.

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Office Of Utilities Regulation
Privacy Overview

Data Protection — Privacy Notice for Information Request
This privacy notice tells you how the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) collects and uses the personal data of individuals who will participate in our Satisfaction Survey for Major Service Providers.

What Types of personal data are we collecting?

  • Names
  • Job Titles
  • Work contact number
  • Work email address

 

What is the legal basis for asking for this information?
The legal basis for collecting personal data is legitimate interests.  The OUR is requesting information based on its legitimate interest in conducting this survey, which necessitates obtaining personal data. The legitimate interest, in this case, relates to fulfilling the project's purpose.

Why are we asking for this information?
The OUR believes it is important to assess the views of various participants in the electricity, telecommunications, and water and sewerage sectors it regulates, particularly the major service providers: Jamaica Public Service Company Limited, the National Water Commission, FLOW, and Digicel Jamaica Limited. Through this research, the OUR aims to evaluate these major service providers' knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions specifically regarding:

  • the roles and functions of the OUR.
  • the service providers' knowledge and perception of the OUR and
  • the extent to which the service providers believe the OUR is performing satisfactorily and executing its mandate efficiently.

The OUR intends to utilize the research findings to review its processes and procedures related to these major service providers.

 

What will we do with personal data?

The data will be used to contact participants to provide opportunities to collect qualitative and quantitative data for analysis. The information will be kept on a secured server, where it will be stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 2020 for four (4) years.

 

How will we protect personal data and how long will it be stored?

We have implemented appropriate technical and organizational measures to ensure that we keep personal data safe and comply with data protection laws. The information will be stored on a physically secured server, accessible only to authorized personnel. The OUR has implemented several controls to protect the data, including password protection, multi-factor authentication, firewalls, anti-virus software, VPNs, and Data Encryption.

The personal data will be stored for four (4) years, after which it will be disposed of in accordance with the OUR Business Classification Scheme and Records Retention and Disposition Authority.

 

Who will utilize the personal data?

The data will be collected by a third-party consultant who will be conducting the survey.

 

What are the rights of data subjects?

Participants can change their minds or withdraw their consent to use their personal data at any time.

 

Participants have the right to ask us to delete their personal data. To do this, they can send an email to dpo@our.org.im. They also have the right to ask us to update and rectify the personal data that we hold about them.