Utilities regulator, OfReg, plans to set up a Consumer Council for the Cayman Islands with the purpose of advising the regulator on issues significantly affecting consumers across the utility sectors.
The Council will be made up of six council members comprising one representative from each of the five districts in Grand Cayman and one representing Cayman Brac & Little Cayman.
The functions of the Consumer Council will include speaking on behalf of consumers by identifying trends in issues affecting them, gathering and reviewing statistical information, and reporting on these trends to OfReg’s CEO, Peter Gough.
At a press briefing in June, Gough spoke briefly about the consumer council project stating that “looking forward, we want to be more transparent, and we want to engage stakeholders”.
“What this will mean is that we will advertise for one person in each district to sit on the council to be able to provide input to the offering, but also to actually act as a sort of mediator between customers and the regulators.”
Additionally, the Council will make proposals and provide advice to OfReg, assisting the regulator to effectively fulfil its statutory duty to protect consumers in the utilities sectors. The Council will also be empowered to assist consumers with progressing complaints filed with OfReg.
“OfReg has a statutory obligation to represent and protect the rights of the consumer in the utility sectors. The creation of the new Consumer Council is a crucial element of ensuring we do so effectively,” Gough said in a press release.
“The Council will create open and direct engagement with OfReg for consumers, providing them the opportunity to identify issues, gather information on, and propose solutions on issues that are affecting them. Working directly with OfReg helps consumers and we, as the regulator, to be better informed and effective in protecting consumer rights.”
Once appointed, the newly created Consumer Council will work with the OfReg senior management team to determine its practical operations and meeting schedule.
OfReg is inviting applications from suitably qualified Caymanians interested in serving on the Consumer Council.
The application details and more information about the Council are available on the OfReg website at https://www.ofreg.ky/news/ofreg-to-create-consumer-council or by emailing to [email protected].
The closing date for applications is Friday, 23 September 2022.
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