The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) has expressed grave concern at the significant number of its meters being vandalised.
In a release on Tuesday, GPL stated that hundreds of meters have been found, damaged beyond repair, and it said that in some instances, they are being vandalised “with the cooperation of customers with the intention of reducing their electricity bills.” The utility also noted with “extreme concern that these discoveries in most instances have pointed to a specific category of customers. This category of customers, inclusive of some businesses who are not considered to be impoverished have been encouraging destruction to the Company’s property.”
GPL reminded that such behaviour is in direct breach of its customers’ obligation under Section 6.3 of the Standard Terms & Conditions of Service which stipulates that the customer will be held liable for charges associated with the replacement of the meter and any unbilled electricity consumed. The utility assured that it has every intention to pursue legal action against all parties involved.
The company pointed out that these meters are expensive and are installed as part of its Power Utility Upgrade Programme (PUUP) which was conceptualised to upgrade GPL’s distribution network and metering infrastructure to not only reduce overall losses, but to improve the quality of service. However, unfortunately, “the opportunity provided to improve the quality of service is being exploited by some unscrupulous characters for nefarious gains.”
GPL also expressed alarm at the “increasing instances” of multiple-storied buildings being constructed in the path of the company’s 13.8kV Primary Distribution Network. According to the release, the company is only notified when construction cannot proceed because of the proximity of the building to the network. As a result the electricity supply must then be interrupted at short notice in order to relocate the network which then inconveniences hundreds of customers. The company also emphasised that it has ceased “this unacceptable practice” of taking emergency power outages to undertake work of this nature.
The utility therefore reminds all relevant entities to inform GPL before construction commences to allow the company to redesign the network, provide adequate notice of service interruption to its customers, and execute the necessary works. Building contractors and workers are also urged to remain cautious and be cognizant of the extreme danger posed when working in close proximity to 13,800V conductors, the release added.
