Residents of Mackenzie, Linden are being furnished with a new format electricity bill which would include arrears data as the Linden Electricity Company Inc (LECI) seeks to regularize its system and improve its customer service unit.

The new billing system has taken effect for the June 2009 reading and according to LECI’s General Manager Patrick Dublin, it will give customers a clear picture of their arrears and current charges. The old bill only had the wattage and charge for a current month and as a result persons were unable to keep a proper record of their arrears.

Chief Executive Officer of the Linmine Secretariat Horace James assured residents that with the institution of the new bill there are no additional charges to the customers. According to him some persons were of the view that the new system would  show an increase in the cost for electricity.

“I want to assure residents that the cost for electricity has not gone up. What you were paying when we had the old bill is the same as what you’ll be paying with this new bill. The only difference is that there is more detailed information provided on this new bill,” James assured.

Over the past three months LECI has instituted several other changes to ensure the smooth operation of the company. In recent times LECI contracted the services of the Linden Utility Services Cooperative Society Limited (LUSCSL) to conduct meter reading on the Mackenzie shore. In that system persons were able to pay their bills at two locations – at the LUSCSL office in Pine Street, Mackenzie and at the Linmine Office Complex.

Meanwhile, LECI has taken full control of the system which is now housed at its Linmine Office Complex. Meter reading is also being done by LECI. In an effort to ensure that no one lost their jobs in the transition process, LECI hired the staff that were responsible for the service while under the control of LUSCSL.
Stabroek News caught up with several persons who were in receipt of their new bill. While some of them expressed a great level of comfort with the new system, others felt that the cashier should be at a more central location.

According to one woman, she has to take two buses in order to get to pay her bill. “I understand that they are looking at security and such like but they need to take into consideration the small man. I live at Amelia’s Ward and so it cost me close to $500 to go get my bill paid.”

An elderly  man said that he lives alone and depends on his pension to survive. “I cannot take the hassle with the round-the-town buses.  I am 78 years old so I have to take a taxi to go and pay my bill. From where I am it cost $1,000 for me to go to that office and back and guess what is my bill as a pensioner, $1,000, so tell me nah.”

Others complained that their bills were not accurate. According to one businessman his bill at June shows that his account with the company has a credit suggesting that he does not owe for June. However he was able to show bills for at least two months which he has not paid. “This tells me that the system still has a lot of teething problems and they need to have it straightened out. I could hold this bill and not pay what I know I honestly owe them but there might be persons who are getting this new bill showing that they have large arrears which would be far from being accurate. I am honest enough to go in and check this with them and honour my arrears which are not reflected on this bill. I think they moved too fast on this and they need to take some time and carefully examine the system,” the businessman said.

In the meantime, LECI is calling on persons who have queries and  persons who are unable to meet the payment deadline to visit the office to have their problems dealt with and to work out a payment arrangement to avoid the discomfort of disconnection since the reconnection fee is $5,000.