32% in overall losses, electricity theft accounts for more than half - GPL

32% in overall losses, electricity theft accounts for more than half – GPL

Mar 20, 2013 News

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL), has attributed the majority of its losses to electricity theft, while highlighting that 32 percent marks the overall loss to the company during the period of 2012. Additionally, GPL cited the failure by the legal system in playing a key role in deterring perpetrators of the clandestine acts.

The team of GPL officials engaging the media yesterday

At a media engagement held at the Regency Hotel yesterday senior officials of the electricity company, including chairman, Winston Brassington and Prime Minister Samuel Hinds sought to highlight and provide overall perspective into the organization’s activities, objectives and challenges.
In light of 2012 seeing the least arrests made in connection to electricity theft over the past seven years, officials continued to bemoan losses in relation to stolen electricity. From 2007 to 2012, 2490 persons were arrested for electricity theft. Last year, 292 persons were arrested, but only 11 were convicted. Two hundred and eighty-one (281) of those matters were said to be pending, while two were struck out and dismissed.
In 2010, 575 persons were arrested in connection with electricity theft while 211 were convicted. Three hundred and ninety-five cases are still before the court while 33 were struck out and 47 dismissed.
For 2012, it was highlighted that 5,604 illegal connections were removed. The field service department which plays a key role in loss reduction was said to have conducted 123 raids in communities and villages were illegal connections were identified.
Additionally, GPL said that 7,764 meters were replaced because of tampering and defect, while 7,847 new services were installed and 13,261 pre-paid meters up and running.
Brassington told the gathering that the prosecution of persons makes no significant change since all persons may receive is, “a slap on the wrist and a fine.”
“When you look at the number of ways and number of illegal connections identified, only a small fraction is prosecuted, and when you look at those cases and the number that are actually found guilty, it is a very small fraction….. guilty is typically a slap on the wrist, a fine and you get off. Very few people have actually gone to jail for stealing.”
Brassington further highlighted that losses reduced from a 44 percent to a 31 percent where in previous years difficulty existed, since loss rates remained stagnated. For 2012, the chairman said that 14.65 percent were technical losses while theft of electricity was pinned at 17.05 percent.
Prime Minister Hinds said that, “It appears from the electricity end that all the splinters are together in commercial losses of electricity and that’s a terrible thing.” He highlighted that consumers refuse to pay for the losses, but added that in operating the company, losses must be catered for.
He charged that, “If we took a position that customers should only pay for what they use and not consider losses, one of the charges to be included in the cost. If that were to be the situation the electricity utility would be forced to close its doors soon, it would not have money to buy fuel and keep itself running.”
He further urged that Guyana should aim to reduce losses to that of Barbados which has a six percent loss rate, while noting that suggestions were made to GPL by a Barbadian team to place additional cost on the installation of meters.
In relation to electricity theft, Hinds opined that a meaningful system must be put in place in tackling the issue of electricity theft.