Dear Editor,
GPL seems to be engaged in an exercise in the Canals Polder and La Grange areas to inspect their meters, particularly the ones installed about a year ago. There was no public announcement of this.
The technicians involved are alleging that there is tampering of the meters. However, a number of persons in the area have alleged that the some of technicians have said their meters were tampered with and have solicited money for not taking them away. Once the persons comply, they get a clean report and the meters are not taken away. Those who did not pay up are suffering.
The GPL has to indicate what is going on. The utility should indicate to the public when the meters were installed, whether by contracted persons, and if they were present when that was done. How can a person’s meter be tampered with when the seals are in place?
How can every household be expected to burn the same amount of energy? How can a household of 6 burn the same energy as a household of two, more especially if the household of two only goes home to sleep at night and does not have sophisticated electronic devices? Did GPL check with the installation crews to determine what difficulties they had encountered in the installation of the meters?
On the one hand GPL is saying that people must conserve, use energy-saving bulbs and devices, turn off lights, etc, and advertise two or three times a week on radio and TV. This is just a waste of time and money when in fact if you don’t burn a certain amount of energy you are suspected of stealing power.
Editor, if GPL is so much concerned with loss/theft of electricity then they could check on the number of premises whose electricity has been disconnected for one year and more and who still have full power to their premises.
The relevant authorities should look into this matter. The press should take the opportunity and visit the GPL office in Region 3 and hear the views of the many consumers and even go into the villages and interview people.
Yours faithfully,
L Langevine
Editor’s note
We are sending a copy of this letter to Ms Shevion Sears-Murray, PRO of GPL for any comment she might wish to make.
