A consolidated Public Utilities Commission (PUC) bill which replaces the Public Utilities Commission Act to cater for changes as a result of the passage of the Telecommunications bill, was passed by the National Assembly on Monday.
“This bill achieves harmonisation with the Telecommunications bill…of 2016 without disturbing existing harmonisation with the Electricity Sector Reform Act and any other laws governing public utilities under the PUC’s jurisdiction,” Minister of Public Telecommunications Cathy Hughes said in piloting the legislation in the House. PPP/C speakers called for the bill to be sent to a special select committee but the government used its majority to approve the legislation.
Hughes said originally the provisions that are required to complement the Telecommunications bill were prepared as yet another amending Bill to the PUC Act. The government, however, formed the opinion that it would be cumbersome for persons having to read the PUC Act to have to refer to the principal PUC 1999 Act along with three Amending Bills. As such, she explained to the House, it was decided to prepare a consolidated PUC Bill that incorporates the PUC Amendment Acts of 2003 and 2010 and the new provisions relating to the telecommunications sector into the principal PUC 1999 Act, thus creating the new consolidated PUC Bill.