GPL threatens disconnection after high incidence of unread meters

Feb 22, 2014 News

The Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) has expressed alarm after its latest report indicated that more than ten per cent of its post-paid customers have meters that were inaccessible.
The state-owned entity is now urging consumers countrywide to make the necessary arrangements to facilitate the monthly reading of their meters by its authorized meter readers.

GPL is warning that it will consider disconnecting power to customers whose meters have not been read more than two consecutive times.

In its monthly operational report, the company found that 11.5 per cent of the homes remained largely off-limits because of locked gates and incorrectly positioned meters.
The report says the highest incidence of locked gates occurs in Region Three (West Demerara) and Region Four (East Demerara). Villages on the West Bank Demerara were the biggest culprits. The latter is home to La Parfaite Harmonie, one of the biggest, new housing schemes in the country.
“GPL is reminding customers that the contract for provision of service requires the company to have unimpeded access to the meters. Further, the right to access to have GPL’s meter read is provided for by law under the Electricity Sector Reform Act 1999 with amendment in 2010.” GPL said that the law also gives it the power to disconnect services if it is unable to read the meters.
“GPL therefore wishes to inform customers that “failure to have your meters read for two consecutive months would result in the disconnection of service.”
The meter readers operate every day, between 06:00hrs and 17:00hrs.
“In cases where the customer is not at home or the meter is not visible to the meter reader, customers should make special provisions to have their meters read.”
Meanwhile, GPL is urging customers to ensure a valid GPL’s employee identification card (ID) is presented at all times by the meter readers.
“The front side of GPL’s employee’s ID should bear a visible photograph of the person, the name and designation and on the reverse side should indicate the company’s Deputy Human Resources Manager’s signature and date of employment.”
GPL said that customers can also visit its website www.gplinc.com for information on the positioning/relocating of meters to facilitate readings.
New laws in place within recent years have mandated GPL to pull out all stops to reduce losses, and place deadlines to connect new services.