Yahneake Sterling, Staff Reporter
Jamaicans
have been warned to expect increases in their water bills in the coming
months.
This will follow the tariff adjustment to be submitted by the National Water Commission by mid-month to the Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR).
President of the NWC, E.G. Hunter, said the commission will make representations to the OUR to have a gradual improvement in its rate regime. He added, however, that while the utility firm would make representations, its desired rate increase was not guaranteed.
"It is for the commission to ask, and for the OUR to determine," Mr. Hunter stated.
In 2003, the NWC had requested an increase of just under 50 per cent in its tariff adjustment, but was granted a 26.35 per cent hike in January 2004 by the OUR.
According to David Geddes, director of consumer and public affairs at the OUR, after receiving the submission, islandwide consultations will commence on August 21. These are scheduled to be completed by the end of September. However, he said the increases would not be seen until January 2007.
Additionally, customers will see a hike in bills due to a US$12 million (J$792 million) billing system to be implemented by the NWC.
Outlived
usefulness
"The current one has been with us since 1992 and it has long since outlived its usefulness," said Mr. Hunter during a press briefing yesterday. "Collaterally, we expect that the beneficiary population, that is, our customers, will pay and we have very generous payment plans within the enterprise," he continued.
Mr. Hunter told The Gleaner that the new billing system could take up to 20-24 months to be implemented. "It is still in the tender stage. A contract could be awarded in four months based on the contract approval time," he revealed.
