GPL to provide timely service or pay consumers

- new Caterpillar sets to boost Christmas demand

New electricity regulations which kick into effect from January 1 will mandate the country’s power company to up its customer service or pay for failing to provide the service.
These new regulations, under the amended Electricity Sector Reform Act, were passed in Parliament earlier this year.
In specific cases, failure to ensure that new clients receive new service connections within a stipulated time could see the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL) being made to pay customers.
According to Chief Executive Officer, Bharat Dindyal, the new customer standards will in the long run force the company to up its service delivery.
With increased oversight by the regulators, the Public Utilities Commission will have the final say and very shortly GPL will be hitting the airwaves and the media to enlighten consumers, he said.
There have been numerous complaints about the sloth of getting new services or the delay in getting problems addressed.
But while that is the good news for long suffering customers, there is bad news for the persons stealing electricity.
In the past GPL would face difficulties proving in court, instances of electricity theft.
According to the CEO, things like what is meter seal; how current flows to a building and then through the meter all had to be explained in court. Additionally whenever police accompanied GPL workers in the past, they would actually have to catch the thief in the act.
With the new regulations, GPL crews can visit an area in the night, take pictures and have the homeowner explain to police the next day how they were able to power their homes in the absence of connections.
The regulations have effectively given GPL a tool to better deal with the thieves.
Currently, GPL says that non-technical losses amounts to over $6.3B annually and a significant percentage of this is to theft.
Meanwhile, speaking on the current state of GPL’s generation, Dindyal noted that demands are around 77 megawatts and not likely to touch the 80 megawatts mark. The generation capacity stands around 84 megawatts with three more likely to be added to the system shortly.
Asked about whether GPL plans to introduce the standby Caterpillar sets to boost generation, the official disclosed that it is a distinct possibility.
He pointed to the alternators of four generating sets at Garden of Eden, which is badly in need of maintenance. With each estimated to be down for a month, there is likelihood that additionally power will be needed. However, the CEO stressed that it will have to be a decision that will have to be considered carefully since the Caterpillar sets come with a hefty operational cost, almost US$330,000 ($66M) monthly for six sets, which will add an extra 10 megawatts.

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