Jamaica regulator approves up to 18% water services tariff hike

Jamaica's Office of Utilities Regulation ( OUR) has given the National Water Commission ( NWC) - the government agency responsible for providing water services on the island - approval to increase tariffs by between 13% and 18%, according to a release by the regulator. Customers that pay for both sewage and potable water services will see their monthly bill increase by 13%, while those who do not pay for sewage services will see rates rise by 18%. The NWC applied to the regulator in April of this year for authorization to increase rates by 19% in order to expand and improve potable water and sewage services. The tariff regime will be in effect from October 3 for five years up to 2018, said the OUR. The regulator also introduced certain new terms and conditions that the NWC must comply with in order to improve customer service, from notifying clients when meter readings are exceptionally high, to reducing the timeframe in which faulty meters must be repaired or replaced. To view the full OUR determination document, follow this link.