THE Public Utilities Commission (PUC) will, in early October, open the doors to a new office in Linden Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice), as it seeks to decentralise the services it offers to the public.

According chairperson, Ms. Della Britton, over the last seven months the commission has embarked on an aggressive campaign, and judging from the responses received from the Linden area, it was determined that there is need for an office to be established. The commission, in addition to its routine work, is currently addressing the issue of staffing for the new office.

Meanwhile, the commission is in the process of conducting a feasibility study in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), with the aim of opening an office there as well.

At the Linden office, as obtained at the headquarters in the city, staff will receive complaints from residents and businesses, about services provided by utility companies operating within the region and seek to provide a path for legal recourse.

The commission, which was established by the Public Utilities Commission Act No 26 0f 1990, regulates, investigates and enforces the provisions of the PUC Act and makes rules for the quality and standards of service to be maintained by the public utility.

In this regard, the commission is also empowered to initiate and conduct investigations into the operations and standards of service provided by any utility; ensures that the public utilities provide adequate, efficient, non-discriminatory and safe services to the public and ensures that just rates are proposed, demanded and received by any public utility.