David Geddes, director of consumer and public affairs at the Office of Utilities Regulation. - File

The Office of Utilities Regulation (OUR) has made a decision on a payment plan submitted to it by the National Water Commission (NWC), to settle some $40 million owed by the water company in regulatory fees.

The disclosure was made by David Geddes, director of consumer and public affairs at the OUR, while speaking with The Gleaner yesterday.

"A decision was made on the payment plan submitted by the NWC to bring them in compliance with a memorandum we issued them earlier this month," he said. "As soon as they receive the letter and have digested the contents then the decision will be made public. This should be by tomorrow (this) afternoon."

$40 million in arrears

The OUR issued a press release previously stating that the NWC was some $40 million in arrears for regulatory fees. As a result, the water commission was issued a memorandum by the OUR earlier this month, demanding that the payments be made or the company would face legal action. The water utility recently requested a 44 per cent increase in water rates.

Mr. Geddes, who was the keynote speaker at the Rotary Club of Kingston's luncheon meeting at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday, said the OUR will be convening at least 14 public meetings across the country with NWC consumers and chambers of commerce in reviewing this request.