Miller disagrees with BEC Friday disconnection plan

Thu, Jul 24th 2014, 12:52 AM

Although the Bahamas Electricity Corporation (BEC) said yesterday that it will resume its disconnection exercises this Friday, BEC Executive Chairman Leslie Miller said he does not support the practice and will seek to "put a stop to it".
In the statement, BEC advised residential customers to pay all outstanding arrears on their electricity bills in order to avoid disconnection.
However, Miller said he was reluctant to agree to the exercise when he was approached about it, noting that the board had grave reservations about it.
"As you know I stopped that (Friday disconnections) because we thought that it was unfair," he said when asked to comment on the statement.
"However, what they have put in place is that BEC offices will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to allow you to pay.
"According to them, they would get about 30 percent of their funds in on Saturday, if they turn you off on Friday.
"I still don't agree with it. I may have to revisit that between now and Friday and probably put a stop to it.
"I am not supporting it fully. I told them that the board has grave reservations about it because it is unfair for you to pay your bill and your light is not turned on."
It was recently revealed that Miller and his family-owned business owed the corporation more than $200,000.
Miller said the problem that BEC faces is that the country is still in an economic crisis. He said most people who owe the corporation owe a significant amount, in excess of $5,000 for average homeowners.
"How did it get like that? Over the years, all of us have been to blame for it. The politicians, management and everybody else has been lax in doing it," he said.
"But because we cannot now pay our bills on time, especially our fuel bill, which now amounts to about $120 million, we have to now put the pressure and put the squeeze on the consumer to help us to pay our bills.
"I don't like it. I'm against it. It goes against everything the minister has given us a mandate to do, which is to turn your lights on. That's why it's a difficult situation. You either collect your funds and pay your bills or you go to the government and ask the government to give you another $50 million, which we have no intention of doing."
In the statement, BEC advised residential customers whose accounts have been disconnected to set up a payment plan with the corporation.
"We believe that this will assist our customers who are finding it difficult to pay off large account balances in full, while also improving BEC's bottom line," the statement read.

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