Dear Editor,
Since I moved to D’Edward Village near the Berbice Bridge just over a year ago, I have been suffering from chronic low voltage at home. I suspect the residents there have been suffering much longer. Earlier, I made several phone calls to GPL but nothing was done. I was told that GPL was undergoing an upgrade to their service to alleviate the constant blackouts we were having then. Indeed this was so, and I prayed that the low-voltage woes would disappear with the upgrade. Although constant blackouts are now a thing of the past, the low voltage persisted. It damaged my US$4,500 Apple MacPro computer and my microwave, and on laundry days, the entire washing cycle would shut down and reset if another appliance was turned on while the washing machine was running. My internet service was often slow, and affected my work at the most critical times. This was very frustrating and so I again intensified my calls to GPL. This time I ensured that a few senior personnel at GPL were aware of my problems. Within a day or two, GPL linesmen were at my home checking the line voltage and the load. Once it was confirmed that our 220/240v supply was down to 198 volts, and our 110v line was only supplying about 94 volts, it was obvious that the transformer supplying electricity to the homes in the street where I live was inadequate to handle the load. A decision was taken to install another transformer and the paperwork was expedited.
Within two weeks, on Wednesday, January 27, GPL linesmen installed the transformer, bringing an end to the low voltage in D’Edward Village, WCB.
Guyana Power & Light has been the target of many complaints and criticisms from unhappy customers over the years. I too, have been critical of GPL’s customer service and a senior manager in the Loss Production Unit whom I exposed. The individual has since been transferred. But while some criticisms can be justified, many were unfounded.
GPL is under tremendous pressure to provide reliable electricity service to Guyanese. But there are those who feel it is their birthright not to pay for the electricity they consume. And when they’re caught and disconnected, they’re usually the ones most vocal in their condemnation of GPL.
I support the right of consumers to demand better service from GPL. But I also believe that when utility companies or other corporations/agencies rise to the occasion and meet the demand of consumer needs, we should commend them with the same enthusiasm as we’re willing to criticise.
And so, on behalf of all the residents of Unity Street, D’Edward Village, WCB, I wish to sincerely thank all those at GPL (for obvious reasons, I choose not to mention their names but they know themselves) who approved and expedited the installation of the transformer that has ended the low voltage to our homes. I especially wish to commend the professionalism of the GPL linesmen for a job well done.
Yours faithfully,
Harry Gill, MP
