GPL needs a thorough shake-up

Sep 03, 2019 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

It is time our power company, GPL, gets a shake-up that will bring about much needed changes that is necessary for our country’s future. The much talked about first oil must coincide with supporting efficient performance from GPL in particular. I would not deny that there are many hard working individuals in this company. However the regular blackouts that has been going on for long is indicative of problems that need urgent attention. As soon as the rain set-up and two heavy wind blow, is blackout. It is mind boggling as to what is the relationship between black-out and the rain. The next point I want to raise is, I have a GPL post near my home that was marked for changing five years ago. Wood-ants ate the post from bottom to the top. There is video evidence of GPL post on my Facebook page. I made a report via GPL WhatsApp on the 3rd May 2019. After repeated reporting no less than 4 times, I was given a reference number (440211). I even made a report also to the Government outreached held at the Leonora Stadium. To this day, no one has made any attempt to give us some peace of mind.
Editor, this an inherent attitude that has been continuously displayed by GPL overtime. Sometimes you see wires sparking and may stop one of the passing GPL vehicle or even call in to report it, until the wires burnt out resulting in blackout or other damages, only then the power company personnel will respond. Right on the public road, you see big bundles of bird vine overgrown on many post. The power company officials would pass weeks, months, and even a year, with no concern for safety or unsightliness. Today, modern electricity standards require using secure methods of joining wires by recommended connectors. Our power company technicians are seen using pliers and twitching 2 wires, worst of all, not even to wrap a piece of installation tape for safety. Look up on GPL post in Regent Street or anywhere and you see a bundle of unsightly wires worst than bird vines. Isn’t there a neater way these wire could be arranged to look better. This is a reflection of the quality of personnel we have in-charge of this power company and its operation. GPL uses wallaba post for their transmission lines mainly. These posts can be cost effective once they are maintained. A wallaba post can last as long as 30 years or much longer. All that is required is to ensure water doesn’t lodge at the bottom and that wood-ant treatment is administered when necessary. Editor, almost 8 in every 10 GPL transmission post are wood ant infested. Who cares! Just past the high cost of replacement on to the consumer and end of story. A post can twist and fall, tearing away transmission lines or damaging transformers, leaving communities without electricity for days, who cares? This had been the attitude of GPL for the longest while. If we are to truly develop this country, there must be a complete overall of the management of this vital sector.

Yours sincerely,
C. Woolford

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