‘Force majeure’ exempts BL&P but some ‘rebates still possible’

Even though the Fair Trading Commission has invoked the “force majeure” exemption – unforeseeable circumstances that prevent someone from fulfilling a contract – for utility companies some customers can still expect some form of a rebate from Light and Power, the FTC said Friday.

Responding to journalists’ questions at a briefing, BL&P Director of Customer Solutions, Kim Griffith-Tang How said the recent announcement by the Fair Trading Commission noted that Light and Power is not the only service provider that has standards of service. Telecom providers and the Barbados Water Authority also have standards of service and the FTC notice was applied to service providers across the board.

She said: “Force majeure really cover issues that are outside of the service providers control…. In this instance, we had a hurricane and it is important for us to remember that this is what would have caused damage to service providers, so outside of light and power the telecom providers would have sustained damage to their network and the Barbados Water Authority.”

Griffith-Tang How explained the announcement by the FTC was proactive in setting the expectation to customers that they won’t be compensated in this instance.

She said: “This circumstance was really outside of the control of service providers …the service providers did not cause this issue as a result of poor service to customers but really it was caused by a hurricane.”

But some customers who experienced damage due to the fault of the company could get a payout, the Light and Power executive told journalists.  She gave an example of instances where trees may have brought down lines and damaged a car. She said that would be outside of the standards of service and customers could claim for compensation.

“Up to yesterday we would have received up to 36 claims and we have been in discussions with our insurers on those claims but we are insured so with the guidance of our insurers, likely customers will be compensated for damage but that is something that will be settled very soon and customers will be provided guidance on,” Griffith Tang-How said. 
(KB)