GPL CEO admits to company’s poor performance

…says, “GPL is not where we want it to be”

Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Power and Light (GPL), Renford Homer, on Friday, in addressing the poor service of the utility company, stated that the power entity is in need of urgent help, as it is not at the level where it should be performing.
The CEO made the statement as the utility company hosted the media at a dinner held at the Grand Coastal Hotel at Le Ressouvenir on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) as part of its 18th Anniversary celebrations.
Homer explained that even though incremental changes have been made over the years, the company needs to improve.
“Recognising those incremental improvements that have been happening over time, and putting those improvements into context with the effort that the company has been making over the years to improve its services, you also need to understand the challenges that the utility company continues to face, and has been facing for some time, that (create a need for the situation to improve),” Homer explained.
The GPL head posited that the company’s performance should be 100 per cent better. He noted that all customers should be satisfied with the service offered.
The CEO explained, “We are not where we want to be. We are supposed to be 100 per cent (free of power) outage; 100 per cent (free of) fluctuation in voltage; 100 per cent (recipients) of customer satisfaction”.
Old equipment and machinery, coupled with continuous worldwide improvements, have been blamed for the current poor quality of service being offered. However, the CEO announced that the utility company has embarked on projects to deliver better service to the Guyanese people.
“To get there is a hill that has to be climbed. There are obstacles in our path, (and) these obstacles require a sizable investment that can move us from where we are (to) where we need to be. There is need for a lot more, the investments are not coming at the rate we would like. We have, however, embarked on projects to bring about relief,” Homer revealed.
The public is being assured that significant improvements will be made over time.
Following the CEO’s remarks, the directors of the various departments within GPL briefly informed the media of their respective duties.
Divisional Director of Projects, Ryan Ross, has responsibility for the Project Management Department and the System Planning and Design Department.
Divisional Director for Customer Service, Rhonda Parks; and Operations Director Bharrat Harjohn, along with other directors, were also present.