The Administration continues to modernise its legislative framework in keeping with the dynamics of a rapidly developing country.

In line with this,  Prime Minister Samuel Hinds on Thursday tabled the Electricity Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill and the Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill for a first reading in the National Assembly.

The Electricity Sector Reform (Amendment) Bill is an Act to amend the Electricity Sector Reform Act of 1999 which seeks to “allow public suppliers to refuse a supply of electricity to persons who have persistently violated the prohibitions against the illegal diversion of electricity and meter tampering and otherwise engaged in illegal conduct regarding electricity.”

Clause six of the amendments enforces enhanced penalties for the abstraction, waste, diversion, theft, consumption or other illegal use of electricity, meter tampering, illegal reconnection of electricity supply, and aiding, requesting or receiving payment to commit any illegal acts.

It also imposes the payment of fines for such illegal conduct on the day of conviction and requires that the convicted persons compensate the relevant public supplier for electricity diverted but not paid for, in specified amounts.

The Public Utilities Commission (Amendment) Bill on the other hand, provides for greater transparency in the appointment of Commission members and its retention of external experts, to enhance its powers to resolve consumer complaints.

Clause four of the amendments empowers the Commission to issue orders resolving consumer complaints within 120 days of the filing of such complaint and to make such orders binding upon consumers as well as public utilities.

Clause six amendments increase the cap on the Commission’s annual assessments on public utilities in the electricity sector from $25M to $50M, while clause seven eliminates the flat amount cap on the Commission’s assessment on public utilities in the Electricity Sector for investigations and other proceedings related to rates and to change the percentage cap from one-half to one-fifth of one percent of gross revenues.       

Provisions are also made to establish upper and lower limits to the penalties for violations of the Principal Act.