NASSAU, BAHAMAS — The Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority (URCA) yesterday acknowledged that it has recorded “considerable” complaints relative to the country’s electricity sector.
In a consultation document, the regulator pointed to the lack of options and maintained its regulatory intervention is necessary to provide consumers with adequate information and a structure establishing the minimum standards.
URCA’s consultation document “Consumer Protection Regulations for the Electricity Sector in The Bahamas” was released yesterday.
It read: “The electricity sector in The Bahamas is primarily vertically integrated and therefore consumers lack the option of alternative service providers.
“Consequently, regulatory intervention becomes necessary to provide consumers with adequate information and a structure which establishes the minimum standards they can expect from the Service Provider. URCA considers that this should enable the consumer to make informed choices and to protect them against substandard service quality.”
URCA continued: “Since URCA became the independent regulatory body for the electricity sector in 2016, the electricity supply services in The Bahamas has been the source of much complaint.
“Since implementing its Consumer Complaint Handling Procedures in 2018, URCA has recorded considerable complaints relative to the electricity sector. URCA also has anecdotal information regarding consumers who have expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of service, specifically as it relates to the responsiveness of licensees, compensation for damage to equipment and appliances, and the level of customer care offered by service providers in general.”
The regulations being proposed cover issues such as the handling of consumer complaints, contracts, security deposits, billing and credit management as well as late payment and reconnection fees.
