The Guyana Power and Light Inc (GPL) is currently conducting a programme to remove faulty meters.
Metering Manager of the Loss Reduction Department, Wayne Watson told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that the utility company began an investigation in November last year, to sort and replace faulty meters after it was discovered that there was a large number of straight feed prepaid and postpaid customers.
Metering Manager of the Loss Reduction Department, Wayne Watson
He said that teams were currently working on the East Bank of Demerara (EBD) corridor from Timehri to Houston replacing these faulty meters. The exercise is expected to move to the East Coast Demerara (ECD) corridor within the next few weeks.
Watson noted that GPL is fully equipped with the necessary tools to replace the faulty meters. He explained the main issue with the “straight feed meters were the fact that persons are extending their houses either in size or internally upgrading along with the extension.” Watson said initially when persons apply for the service, they receive 30 amps; however, with additions to their homes such as water pumps and air conditioning units, their load base has now increased.
Watson said these additions were often made without proper consultation with the Government Inspectorate Office. He recommended that persons visit any GPL office to determine if they should increase their amps. Watson also advised that GPL clients relay their issues to the power company “rather than having an unauthorised person attempt to address a problem they are not fully acquainted with.”
