Dear Editor,
In response to GPL’s letter, ‘GPL upgrade programme in Buxton/Friendship does not include reconfiguring of the network’, in the October 7th, 2018 edition of Stabroek News; I wish to offer the following response.
I would first like to thank GPL for providing the context of the project currently being executed within the communities of Buxton and Friendship to unaware readers.
I wish to note Mrs Sears’ response, which states “this investment is aimed at improving reliability of service whilst reducing technical and commercial losses.” As this is the mission behind these upgrades. It is fair to say that this `improved reliability of service’ is aimed at benefiting the customers and so the customers should be given the best supply of service possible.
It is very clear in the context of enlightening readers the company chose to omit some very critical information as it pertains to the current project, but was clever in highlighting and I quote; “should GPL reconfigure the network from a two wire to a three wire supply at a considerable cost, the affected customers will be required to upgrade their internal wiring to the stipulated wiring standard and certified by the Guyana Electrical Inspectorate (GEI), before GPL can proceed to complete the connection.” Permit me to provide some information in this regard.
It can also be noted that the power company has not kept to its promises but was keen to state the considerable cost and the fact that ‘affected’ customers will be required to upgrade their internal wiring to the stipulated wiring standard and certification of by the GEI. In context to the current project, every house within the Buxton and Friendship communities is required to purchase a new meter that would cost about $20,000 and if the house is not wired to the stipulated wiring standard and certified by the GEI that house will not be provided with a supply of service, and would therefore be required to rewire in order to get the service.
It should be stated that more 70% of homes in Buxton and Friendship communities are either newly built or renovated and have been newly wired or rewired within the last 15 years to the aforementioned standard and certification. This leaves approximately 30% of houses that will need to be rewired to facilitate the current upgrade. This speaks of the readiness of these communities to receive the 110 voltage supply.
In reference to; “two-wire 240 voltage configuration; one live (240v) and one neutral voltage supply to Buxton and Friendship but many other communities along the East Coast of Demerara, which includes but is not limited to Annandale, Vigilance and Melanie”. It should be known that selected sections of Annandale and Vigilance currently receive the 110 voltage supply.
The Power Company still has not provided any probable cause as it pertains to why residents of the communities of Buxton and Friendship cannot receive the 110 voltage supply, which is a promise made to them years ago. In context to the affected customers that Mrs Sears refers to; those customers are residents who are not provided with `improved reliability of service’ that is in keeping with the mission behind the upgrade.
As it relates to the arrears, residents still holds on to the promise made to them to completely clear bills of arrears. I wish to emphasise that it is the intention of residents of the communities of Buxton and Friendship to pay their GPL bills but they strongly believe that they should not be held responsible for occurrences that may have resulted or contributed to them receiving estimated bills. To this this effect residents believe that is should be dealt with through an overall approach and not on a case-by-case basis as everyone was affected. On a case-by-case basis only a few stand to benefit and will be dealt through many conditions, while an overall approach will be a win-win for both residents and the Power Company.
In closing, it is clear that the Power Company has failed to provide any probable cause as it pertains to why residents cannot receive the 110 voltage three wire (2 x 110v and one neutral) configuration and have their bills arrears completely cleared. I strongly believe that the Power Company should keep the promises made.
Yours faithfully,
Jermaine Cockfield
