Watchdog tells TTEC, WASA to pay consumers

The Regulated Industries Commission (RIC) has called on the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission (TTEC) and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA) to offer compensation to consumers affected by separate incidents on November 3 and November 7 respectively.

In the first incident concerning TTEC on No-vember 3, an explosion at the utility’s Rio Claro sub-station resulted in the subsequent loss of electricity to consumers in the area, as well as damage to consumers’ appliances and equipment. On November 7, between the hours of 2.30 am and 7 am, pollutants in the Caroni River were drawn into the Caroni-Arena plant and entered the WASA distribution system. Consumers in areas serviced by the plant complained of a foul odour coming from the polluted water. As such, RIC requested reports from both utilities on the incidents which it received last Tuesday. Arising out of these reports, the RIC made several recommendations to both companies.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday at RIC’s offices, Furness Building, Independence Square, chairman Dennis Pantin stated that the conclusion drawn from the TTEC report was that the company was liable to compensate legitimate cases arising out of the incident. If they choose, he said, customers could be compensated by means of a credit to their electricity bills. RIC, he noted, has also urged TTEC to review its existing safety systems to avoid a repetition of the Rio Claro incident. “The report provided by TTEC suggests that if in fact there were some changes in their safety systems, the incident may not have occurred,” he said. “In the interest of the consumer, we are trying to ensure that TTEC is operating at the highest level.”

Where WASA is concerned, Pantin continued, the RIC is still seeking clarification on a number of issues. However, he said, the Commission supports the conclusion made in WASA’s report that there was a need to upgrade the utility’s in-house capabilities in terms of a number of carbon filters which have not been replaced since they expired in 2001. He said, “If these carbon filters had been replaced, then it meant that the odour problem would not have occurred since the filters would have in some way reduced the odours.” WASA, he continued, also needs to put in place up-stream monitoring and early warning systems in conjunction with the Environmental Manage-ment Authority. The Caroni plant, he explained, draws water from a range of tributaries which are marked by several kinds of activities; specifically household, industry and farming, all of which in one way or the other could contribute to the contamination problem.

Additionally, Pantin said, although there are no existing standards in place for WASA, the RIC has suggested that the company should take into account the possibility of providing some compensation to those who have been affected. He revealed that earlier this year, the Commission issued guarantees and overall Standards of Service for WASA. In accordance with the Standards, when they are published in 2004, the RIC will require WASA to compensate affected consumers. However, until then, he continued, the RIC has urged the company that in the spirit of upholding standards to consider compensating legitimate customers by offering rebates on their bills. “We have also urged WASA to liaise with the public health authorities to ensure that all necessary public health precautions are being taken to ensure that there is no residual impact with respect to this problem,” he added.