UK regulator’s crisis expert reviewing OfReg
(CNS): Aidan Stringfellow, head of Crisis Response and Policy and International Affairs at Ofgem, the UK utility regulator for gas and electricity, visited the Cayman Islands last week to offer support to the Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg). The visit follows news that the planning and infrastructure ministry has taken over responsibility for OfReg from the Cabinet office.
Minister Jay Ebanks revealed at a public meeting held by his colleague Dwayne Seymour in Bodden Town last week that he is now responsible for OfReg as part of the reshuffle and the expansion of his ministry.
Cayman’s regulator will oversee the transition from 97% of the country’s electricity generated from diesel to 70% generated through renewable sources such as solar and wind in less than 14 years, one of many critical issues that OfReg is struggling with.
Ebanks said he had plans for OfReg, but he had to get support from his colleagues before he spoke about it.
In the meantime, Stringfellow is undertaking a scoping study to identify areas where Ofgem can assist the local regulator, according to a release from OfReg. It also will review the strategic plan for OfReg’s areas of responsibility and the sectors and key performance indicators.
In the release, OfReg said Stringfellow will examine what assistance OfReg may require in its function as a utility regulator and is expected to identify areas where technical expertise and staff development are needed.
The review included legislation, regulations and policies and suggested changes that could enhance OfReg’s role as well as a look at the processes, systems and procedures. Stringfellow will be asked to make recommendations for potential efficiencies and how the customer experience can be enhanced.
He also looked at each of the sectors to identify areas of concern over the staff complement and to identify areas of weakness in the capability of staff of the sector.
During his visit he met with OfReg’s staff, other civil servants and the private sector. Interim CEO Peter Gough said the office appreciated the opportunity to get an independent, professional view of OfReg.
I am confident that strengthening our relationship with UK regulators will help to further develop and improve the organisation and its people,” he added.
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Category: Local News
Any way you slice it…. It is bullshit.
Right from the top, 12:37 pm! Shuffling things around is a poor effort to get anything useful for the people ! Get some honest people to clean things up!!! We are tired of all the friends and family doing nothing !
Are there regulations which give permission to build a school and now a hospital so close to a active landfill? Just asking as sometimes the smell which emanates is unbearable
You all bitched about “Offreg” don’t know this and don’t know that from the time it was set up. Those who set it up obviously did not have the expertise to do so. Now that they have brought in someone who has experience in regulating national utility companies you continue to bitch about that! Since soooo many of you are experts why didn’t you go work there and fix all the issues. It is much easier to be arm-chair experts than being able to do the real work. Nothing but stupid chatter day in and day out! Pick up a book and read something useful!
OfReg sucks…….any way you slice it!
Get real, 12:24 pm. Everyone having a brain knows this has just been some gravy for the “insiders”. WHAT HAVE THEY DONE?
Except the smell of which you speak does not come from the dump and prevailing winds blow it the other way towards Kirk Supermarket.
@1:49pm – Is that really a fact? The purchaser buys per gallon, bulk rate granted but still….
So you’re saying that no one can do the arithmetic to determine how to tax per gallon, even with their calculators?
Actually, I can almost believe that!
Look it up.
What is the definition of “interim”? It seems to mean long term or even permanent at OfReg rather than a short term, temporary time period.
3:20 if its for a Caymanian it means two months maximum but if it’s for a foreigner as in this case it means two years minimum.
Amen on that !!!
I hope he’s forthright & honest and it’s made public
You are funny.
ofreg…just like the rest of civil service….always needs expert expats to confirm to us they are incapable of doing the basics of their jobs.
welcome to wonderland.
1;18. huh? Ofreg is not part of the civil service. Thats the main problem.
why is it that everyone thinks that every government entity is part of the civil service.
engage brain.
No one cares about your point except the civil service.
Ah yes. The non governmental agencies. So different from the civil service. Management appointed by government. Not required to make a profit or achieve any service performance goals. No consequences for monumental delivery failure. Any shortfalls funded by the public purse. Yes , conoleo different from the civil service.
You nah tired a being here in cayman. Go nah ! You look better going than coming meddling in our affairs and I don’t care how long ya been here if that is the case. ChA!
Close it down.
Fix the dump!
What a fantastic waste of public money!! A highly-funded public authority with a high-paid staff and Board members, including expensive SUVs for entire management. Yet we still have to bring in ONE man to tell dozens how to do their jobs!!!
Wow! World class!! NOT!
11:25.if they were part of the civil service they would be world class.
shut down the failing SAGC’s and return them to the civil service.
Because the civil service excels, right? Success stories like WORC?
I feel sorry for the UK guy. The one guy who knows anything about the duties and enforcement actions of the office. He’s going to be literally laughing all the way to the bank.
How can they regulate anything when they say they dont even know the cost of fuel imported to the Country. Their words not mine.
That’s because the duty on diesel is by the gallon, not by value. This is on purpose.
If it was based on price, do you realize the astronomical duty hikes we would be reeling from over the past two years? It was smart to put the duty on gallon versus price as the price fluctuates and with the recent increases only the government would be benefitting. Think before engaging you mouth please.
Dig up the cell towers and move them to family property in NS.
Please: OfReg isn’t a regulator in form or function. There are no warnings, fines or sanctions being handed down. It’s a utility/monopolist enabler and apologist, and now under the remit of Dwayne Seymour. Heaven help the consumer victims supporting the highest private utility, fuel, and telecom margins in the world, with no representation in sight. Consumers are about to be saddled with further landfill and waste (mis)management costs to further increase cost of living out a couple generations. The 20th century industrial family directly responsible for toxic leachate dumps around the world is helming ours. It’s all unsustainable. Cayman governance needs intervention. Tax free or not, the quality of life spread to onshore has narrowed rapidly in recent years.
Wrong Minister, OfReg is now under the remit of Hon Jay Ebanks, Minister of Planning, Agriculture, Housing, & Infrastructure! Be patient, he will see that action is taken to reinforce OfReg and reign in these wayward utilities.
And probably throw his report in the bin after he’s on the plane out. They’ll be back to buznizz as usual before Stringfellow lands back in UK. You really think the bigoted ministers presiding over this dumptank entity real give a rat’s ass about what a this fellow has to say?
You really think the bigoted ministers presiding over this dumptank entity real give a rat’s ass about what a this fellow has to say?
That’s a bit unfair. I’m sure they would care a bit if they were capable of understanding anything that he said.
You have a lot of faith in a minister who has shown very little in 2 years.
What planet you living on? He’s too busy planing the destruction of the central wet lands. Not to mention incapable beyond measure
Lmao. He hasn’t got a clue either.