IRC launches new outreach effort

Roseau, Dominica, May 13, 2010: The Independent Regulatory Commission (IRC), Dominica’s electricity regulator begins a second round of outreach meetings with a visit to Trafalgar next week.

The first outreach programme took place from June to September in 2009 and began in Dublanc.

The outreach effort aims to broaden public knowledge of the IRC’s roles and functions through face to face meetings with consumers in their communities. The Trafalgar meeting will take place on May 18, 2010 at the Trafalgar Community Centre from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The Outreach programme aims to clarify the scope and responsibilities of the IRC as a regulator as well as seeking valuable feedback from consumers around the country. The visits will also allow the IRC to inform consumers of the initiatives which have been undertaken so far and the progress the regulator has made.

“The IRC has made an immense amount of progress in quite a short space of time. We have established a Quality of Service Standards Guarantee scheme, put in place a Complaints and a Licensing procedure and have spent endless hours meeting with DOMLEC in a bid to explore and improve the way they do business to the benefit of the company and the consumer alike. We need to let people know about these achievements and how they can continue to help us make the electricity service and conditions they receive, a better one,” according to Thalia Remy, public and consumer relations consultant.

The IRC considers outreach an essential part of its communications strategy since customer feedback will be analysed to inform and make relevant, decision making and rule formulation for the sector.

The IRC Community Outreach Programme will follow the Trafalgar meeting with visits to Bataka and Pointe Michel before the end of June, 2010.

Electricity customers in these and neighbouring communities are asked to listen/look out for updates on time and venue in the media and through their Village Councils.

– IRC