GPL loses over $150M in 2017

…tells PUC only 27 power outages recorded last year as it boasts service improvement plans

Some 12 “large customers” who are on the Guyana Power and Light (GPL) grid contributed to robbing the State entity of some $150 million in 2017.
This figure was revealed during a hearing of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) on Tuesday when the power company during a presentation announced several measures to combat losses.
Defects on generators and electricity theft were two of the major issues GPL faced last year. GPL Company Secretary Lorain Bancroft said that the entity was working with Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) leaders to discourage theft practices rather than pursue prosecution in the courts. She, however, indicated that the persons or entities engaging in the practice could face the legal system.
“We will continue to review this process, because under the law, it is found once you have tampered with our meters or our apparatus, then it’s a criminal offence, so we have to ensure that evidence chain is concretised and established,” she noted.
Bancroft added that GPL continued to encourage members of the public to discourage “illegal divergence of electricity”. She indicated that the State entity intended to set up linkages with the Government Inspectorate to this end, adding that GPL would continue to work with stakeholders, including the Guyana Police Force.
The Commissioners also heard that GPL was working on testing and replacing defective meters. It announced that some 20,000 meters would be replaced by the end of this year.
Other measures GPL announced to improve its service include splitting existing feeders, rehabilitation of its distribution networks and additional power generation plants at Canefield, Edinburgh, Anna Regina and Bartica.