THE FAIR TRADING COMMISSION (FTC) is planning to intensify its regulation of the Barbados Water Authority (BWA).
This will include the appointment of a utility analyst responsible for the BWA and an overall effort to ensure the state-owned corporation meets “appropriate standards of service”.
FTC chief executive office Peggy Griffith outlined the plan in the latest Conversations With The FTC column published on page 16 of this publication.
“As you know, we have had responsibility for regulating the Barbados Water Authority since late last year.
“This marks the first occasion that the Commission will be regulating a public utility. We are happy to have the BWA on board and the company can expect to be regulated in the same way – with the same level of independence and impartiality – as our regulation of the private companies,” Griffith said.
“We have started dialogue with the company and have mainly been dealing with the resolution of consumer complaints.
“Shortly, we will have in place a utility analyst who will be responsible for the [BWA] and we will begin to work with the company on the establishment of appropriate standards of service.
“This is a fairly detailed process that will also involve public consultation and ultimately the Commission will decide on the areas for which standards of service should be established, the associated targets and the appropriate level of compensation for breaches of the targets,” she added.
The BWA is currently engaged in a multi-million dollar mains replacement programme and in recent weeks has been inundated by complaints from frustrated customers who have been suffering persistently severe outages.
The problem has been blamed partly on the drought conditions Barbados is suffering from, and has been especially crippling for residents of rural communities.
The Barbados Light & Power Company and Cable & Wireless are the other utilities the FTC regulates. (SC)
